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Miss Mackenzie
Miss Mackenzie

Chapter XXV

Cover illustration for Miss Mackenzie
Context Illustration Reading 1/46 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Lady Ball in Arundel Street On Christmas Day Miss Mackenzie was pressed very hard to eat her Christmas dinner with Mr and Mrs Buggins, and she almost gave way.
She had some half-formed idea in her head that should she once sit down to table with Buggins, she would have given up the fight altogether.
She had no objection to Buggins, and had, indeed, no strong objection to put herself on a par with Buggins; but she felt that she could not be on a par with Buggins and with John Ball at the same time.
Why it should be that in associating with the man she would take a step downwards, and might yet associate with the man's wife without taking any step downwards, she did not attempt to explain to herself.
But I think that she could have explained it had she put herself to the task of analysing the question, and that she felt exactly the result of such analysis without making it.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Miss Mackenzie

Chapter XXV

Reading 1/46 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Lady Ball in Arundel Street On Christmas Day Miss Mackenzie was pressed very hard to eat her Christmas dinner with Mr and Mrs Buggins, and she almost gave way.
Line 2
She had some half-formed idea in her head that should she once sit down to table with Buggins, she would have given up the fight altogether.
Line 3
She had no objection to Buggins, and had, indeed, no strong objection to put herself on a par with Buggins; but she felt that she could not be on a par with Buggins and with John Ball at the same time.
Line 4
Why it should be that in associating with the man she would take a step downwards, and might yet associate with the man's wife without taking any step downwards, she did not attempt to explain to herself.
Line 5
But I think that she could have explained it had she put herself to the task of analysing the question, and that she felt exactly the result of such analysis without making it.

Learner Dictionary

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

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “She had no objection to Buggins, and had, indeed, no strong objection to put herself on a par with Buggins; but she felt that she could not be on a par with Buggins and with John Ball at the same time.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “She had some half-formed idea in her head that should she once sit down to table with Buggins, she would have given up the fight altogether.”

Herself pronoun US /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading “She had no objection to Buggins, and had, indeed, no strong objection to put herself on a par with Buggins; but she felt that she could not be on a par with Buggins and with John Ball at the same time.”

John noun US /john/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She had no objection to Buggins, and had, indeed, no strong objection to put herself on a par with Buggins; but she felt that she could not be on a par with Buggins and with John Ball at the same time.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “Why it should be that in associating with the man she would take a step downwards, and might yet associate with the man's wife without taking any step downwards, she did not attempt to explain to herself.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She had some half-formed idea in her head that should she once sit down to table with Buggins, she would have given up the fight altogether.”

Question noun US /ˈquestion/

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

From this reading “But I think that she could have explained it had she put herself to the task of analysing the question, and that she felt exactly the result of such analysis without making it.”

Same noun US /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She had no objection to Buggins, and had, indeed, no strong objection to put herself on a par with Buggins; but she felt that she could not be on a par with Buggins and with John Ball at the same time.”

Step noun US /step/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Why it should be that in associating with the man she would take a step downwards, and might yet associate with the man's wife without taking any step downwards, she did not attempt to explain to herself.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Why it should be that in associating with the man she would take a step downwards, and might yet associate with the man's wife without taking any step downwards, she did not attempt to explain to herself.”

Think noun US /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But I think that she could have explained it had she put herself to the task of analysing the question, and that she felt exactly the result of such analysis without making it.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She had no objection to Buggins, and had, indeed, no strong objection to put herself on a par with Buggins; but she felt that she could not be on a par with Buggins and with John Ball at the same time.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “Why it should be that in associating with the man she would take a step downwards, and might yet associate with the man's wife without taking any step downwards, she did not attempt to explain to herself.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “She had some half-formed idea in her head that should she once sit down to table with Buggins, she would have given up the fight altogether.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “Why it should be that in associating with the man she would take a step downwards, and might yet associate with the man's wife without taking any step downwards, she did not attempt to explain to herself.”

All words in this reading · 92

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 She had no objection to Buggins, and had, indeed, no strong objection to put herself on a par with Buggins; but she felt that she could not be on a par with Buggins and with John Ball at the same time.

almost

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

From this reading Lady Ball in Arundel Street On Christmas Day Miss Mackenzie was pressed very hard to eat her Christmas dinner with Mr and Mrs Buggins, and she almost gave way.

altogether

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

From this reading She had some half-formed idea in her head that should she once sit down to table with Buggins, she would have given up the fight altogether.

analysing

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

From this reading But I think that she could have explained it had she put herself to the task of analysing the question, and that she felt exactly the result of such analysis without making it.

analysis

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

From this reading But I think that she could have explained it had she put herself to the task of analysing the question, and that she felt exactly the result of such analysis without making it.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Lady Ball in Arundel Street On Christmas Day Miss Mackenzie was pressed very hard to eat her Christmas dinner with Mr and Mrs Buggins, and she almost gave way.

any

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

From this reading Why it should be that in associating with the man she would take a step downwards, and might yet associate with the man's wife without taking any step downwards, she did not attempt to explain to herself.

Arundel

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

From this reading Lady Ball in Arundel Street On Christmas Day Miss Mackenzie was pressed very hard to eat her Christmas dinner with Mr and Mrs Buggins, and she almost gave way.

associate

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

From this reading Why it should be that in associating with the man she would take a step downwards, and might yet associate with the man's wife without taking any step downwards, she did not attempt to explain to herself.

associating

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

From this reading Why it should be that in associating with the man she would take a step downwards, and might yet associate with the man's wife without taking any step downwards, she did not attempt to explain to herself.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading She had no objection to Buggins, and had, indeed, no strong objection to put herself on a par with Buggins; but she felt that she could not be on a par with Buggins and with John Ball at the same time.

attempt

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

From this reading Why it should be that in associating with the man she would take a step downwards, and might yet associate with the man's wife without taking any step downwards, she did not attempt to explain to herself.

Ball

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

From this reading Lady Ball in Arundel Street On Christmas Day Miss Mackenzie was pressed very hard to eat her Christmas dinner with Mr and Mrs Buggins, and she almost gave way.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading She had no objection to Buggins, and had, indeed, no strong objection to put herself on a par with Buggins; but she felt that she could not be on a par with Buggins and with John Ball at the same time.

Buggins

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

From this reading Lady Ball in Arundel Street On Christmas Day Miss Mackenzie was pressed very hard to eat her Christmas dinner with Mr and Mrs Buggins, and she almost gave way.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading She had no objection to Buggins, and had, indeed, no strong objection to put herself on a par with Buggins; but she felt that she could not be on a par with Buggins and with John Ball at the same time.

Christmas

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

From this reading Lady Ball in Arundel Street On Christmas Day Miss Mackenzie was pressed very hard to eat her Christmas dinner with Mr and Mrs Buggins, and she almost gave way.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading She had no objection to Buggins, and had, indeed, no strong objection to put herself on a par with Buggins; but she felt that she could not be on a par with Buggins and with John Ball at the same time.

Day

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

From this reading Lady Ball in Arundel Street On Christmas Day Miss Mackenzie was pressed very hard to eat her Christmas dinner with Mr and Mrs Buggins, and she almost gave way.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Why it should be that in associating with the man she would take a step downwards, and might yet associate with the man's wife without taking any step downwards, she did not attempt to explain to herself.

dinner

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

From this reading Lady Ball in Arundel Street On Christmas Day Miss Mackenzie was pressed very hard to eat her Christmas dinner with Mr and Mrs Buggins, and she almost gave way.

down

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

From this reading She had some half-formed idea in her head that should she once sit down to table with Buggins, she would have given up the fight altogether.

downwards

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

From this reading Why it should be that in associating with the man she would take a step downwards, and might yet associate with the man's wife without taking any step downwards, she did not attempt to explain to herself.

eat

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

From this reading Lady Ball in Arundel Street On Christmas Day Miss Mackenzie was pressed very hard to eat her Christmas dinner with Mr and Mrs Buggins, and she almost gave way.

exactly

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

From this reading But I think that she could have explained it had she put herself to the task of analysing the question, and that she felt exactly the result of such analysis without making it.

explain

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

From this reading Why it should be that in associating with the man she would take a step downwards, and might yet associate with the man's wife without taking any step downwards, she did not attempt to explain to herself.

explained

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

From this reading But I think that she could have explained it had she put herself to the task of analysing the question, and that she felt exactly the result of such analysis without making it.

felt

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

From this reading She had no objection to Buggins, and had, indeed, no strong objection to put herself on a par with Buggins; but she felt that she could not be on a par with Buggins and with John Ball at the same time.

fight

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

From this reading She had some half-formed idea in her head that should she once sit down to table with Buggins, she would have given up the fight altogether.

gave

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

From this reading Lady Ball in Arundel Street On Christmas Day Miss Mackenzie was pressed very hard to eat her Christmas dinner with Mr and Mrs Buggins, and she almost gave way.

given

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

From this reading She had some half-formed idea in her head that should she once sit down to table with Buggins, she would have given up the fight altogether.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading She had some half-formed idea in her head that should she once sit down to table with Buggins, she would have given up the fight altogether.

half-formed

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

From this reading She had some half-formed idea in her head that should she once sit down to table with Buggins, she would have given up the fight altogether.

hard

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

From this reading Lady Ball in Arundel Street On Christmas Day Miss Mackenzie was pressed very hard to eat her Christmas dinner with Mr and Mrs Buggins, and she almost gave way.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading She had some half-formed idea in her head that should she once sit down to table with Buggins, she would have given up the fight altogether.

head

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

From this reading She had some half-formed idea in her head that should she once sit down to table with Buggins, she would have given up the fight altogether.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Lady Ball in Arundel Street On Christmas Day Miss Mackenzie was pressed very hard to eat her Christmas dinner with Mr and Mrs Buggins, and she almost gave way.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading She had no objection to Buggins, and had, indeed, no strong objection to put herself on a par with Buggins; but she felt that she could not be on a par with Buggins and with John Ball at the same time.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading But I think that she could have explained it had she put herself to the task of analysing the question, and that she felt exactly the result of such analysis without making it.

idea

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

From this reading She had some half-formed idea in her head that should she once sit down to table with Buggins, she would have given up the fight altogether.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Lady Ball in Arundel Street On Christmas Day Miss Mackenzie was pressed very hard to eat her Christmas dinner with Mr and Mrs Buggins, and she almost gave way.

indeed

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

From this reading She had no objection to Buggins, and had, indeed, no strong objection to put herself on a par with Buggins; but she felt that she could not be on a par with Buggins and with John Ball at the same time.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Why it should be that in associating with the man she would take a step downwards, and might yet associate with the man's wife without taking any step downwards, she did not attempt to explain to herself.

John

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

From this reading She had no objection to Buggins, and had, indeed, no strong objection to put herself on a par with Buggins; but she felt that she could not be on a par with Buggins and with John Ball at the same time.

Lady

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

From this reading Lady Ball in Arundel Street On Christmas Day Miss Mackenzie was pressed very hard to eat her Christmas dinner with Mr and Mrs Buggins, and she almost gave way.

Mackenzie

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

From this reading Lady Ball in Arundel Street On Christmas Day Miss Mackenzie was pressed very hard to eat her Christmas dinner with Mr and Mrs Buggins, and she almost gave way.

making

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

From this reading But I think that she could have explained it had she put herself to the task of analysing the question, and that she felt exactly the result of such analysis without making it.

man

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

From this reading Why it should be that in associating with the man she would take a step downwards, and might yet associate with the man's wife without taking any step downwards, she did not attempt to explain to herself.

man's

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

From this reading Why it should be that in associating with the man she would take a step downwards, and might yet associate with the man's wife without taking any step downwards, she did not attempt to explain to herself.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Why it should be that in associating with the man she would take a step downwards, and might yet associate with the man's wife without taking any step downwards, she did not attempt to explain to herself.

Miss

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

From this reading Lady Ball in Arundel Street On Christmas Day Miss Mackenzie was pressed very hard to eat her Christmas dinner with Mr and Mrs Buggins, and she almost gave way.

Mr

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

From this reading Lady Ball in Arundel Street On Christmas Day Miss Mackenzie was pressed very hard to eat her Christmas dinner with Mr and Mrs Buggins, and she almost gave way.

Mrs

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

From this reading Lady Ball in Arundel Street On Christmas Day Miss Mackenzie was pressed very hard to eat her Christmas dinner with Mr and Mrs Buggins, and she almost gave way.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading She had no objection to Buggins, and had, indeed, no strong objection to put herself on a par with Buggins; but she felt that she could not be on a par with Buggins and with John Ball at the same time.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading She had no objection to Buggins, and had, indeed, no strong objection to put herself on a par with Buggins; but she felt that she could not be on a par with Buggins and with John Ball at the same time.

objection

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

From this reading She had no objection to Buggins, and had, indeed, no strong objection to put herself on a par with Buggins; but she felt that she could not be on a par with Buggins and with John Ball at the same time.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But I think that she could have explained it had she put herself to the task of analysing the question, and that she felt exactly the result of such analysis without making it.

OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Lady Ball in Arundel Street On Christmas Day Miss Mackenzie was pressed very hard to eat her Christmas dinner with Mr and Mrs Buggins, and she almost gave way.

once

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

From this reading She had some half-formed idea in her head that should she once sit down to table with Buggins, she would have given up the fight altogether.

par

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

From this reading She had no objection to Buggins, and had, indeed, no strong objection to put herself on a par with Buggins; but she felt that she could not be on a par with Buggins and with John Ball at the same time.

pressed

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

From this reading Lady Ball in Arundel Street On Christmas Day Miss Mackenzie was pressed very hard to eat her Christmas dinner with Mr and Mrs Buggins, and she almost gave way.

put

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

From this reading She had no objection to Buggins, and had, indeed, no strong objection to put herself on a par with Buggins; but she felt that she could not be on a par with Buggins and with John Ball at the same time.

questionnounUS /ˈquestion/

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

From this reading But I think that she could have explained it had she put herself to the task of analysing the question, and that she felt exactly the result of such analysis without making it.

result

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

From this reading But I think that she could have explained it had she put herself to the task of analysing the question, and that she felt exactly the result of such analysis without making it.

samenounUS /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She had no objection to Buggins, and had, indeed, no strong objection to put herself on a par with Buggins; but she felt that she could not be on a par with Buggins and with John Ball at the same time.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading Lady Ball in Arundel Street On Christmas Day Miss Mackenzie was pressed very hard to eat her Christmas dinner with Mr and Mrs Buggins, and she almost gave way.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading She had some half-formed idea in her head that should she once sit down to table with Buggins, she would have given up the fight altogether.

sit

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

From this reading She had some half-formed idea in her head that should she once sit down to table with Buggins, she would have given up the fight altogether.

some

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

From this reading She had some half-formed idea in her head that should she once sit down to table with Buggins, she would have given up the fight altogether.

stepnounUS /step/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Why it should be that in associating with the man she would take a step downwards, and might yet associate with the man's wife without taking any step downwards, she did not attempt to explain to herself.

Street

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

From this reading Lady Ball in Arundel Street On Christmas Day Miss Mackenzie was pressed very hard to eat her Christmas dinner with Mr and Mrs Buggins, and she almost gave way.

strong

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

From this reading She had no objection to Buggins, and had, indeed, no strong objection to put herself on a par with Buggins; but she felt that she could not be on a par with Buggins and with John Ball at the same time.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading But I think that she could have explained it had she put herself to the task of analysing the question, and that she felt exactly the result of such analysis without making it.

table

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

From this reading She had some half-formed idea in her head that should she once sit down to table with Buggins, she would have given up the fight altogether.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Why it should be that in associating with the man she would take a step downwards, and might yet associate with the man's wife without taking any step downwards, she did not attempt to explain to herself.

taking

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

From this reading Why it should be that in associating with the man she would take a step downwards, and might yet associate with the man's wife without taking any step downwards, she did not attempt to explain to herself.

task

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

From this reading But I think that she could have explained it had she put herself to the task of analysing the question, and that she felt exactly the result of such analysis without making it.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading She had some half-formed idea in her head that should she once sit down to table with Buggins, she would have given up the fight altogether.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading She had some half-formed idea in her head that should she once sit down to table with Buggins, she would have given up the fight altogether.

thinknounUS /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But I think that she could have explained it had she put herself to the task of analysing the question, and that she felt exactly the result of such analysis without making it.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She had no objection to Buggins, and had, indeed, no strong objection to put herself on a par with Buggins; but she felt that she could not be on a par with Buggins and with John Ball at the same time.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Lady Ball in Arundel Street On Christmas Day Miss Mackenzie was pressed very hard to eat her Christmas dinner with Mr and Mrs Buggins, and she almost gave way.

up

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

From this reading She had some half-formed idea in her head that should she once sit down to table with Buggins, she would have given up the fight altogether.

very

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

From this reading Lady Ball in Arundel Street On Christmas Day Miss Mackenzie was pressed very hard to eat her Christmas dinner with Mr and Mrs Buggins, and she almost gave way.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Lady Ball in Arundel Street On Christmas Day Miss Mackenzie was pressed very hard to eat her Christmas dinner with Mr and Mrs Buggins, and she almost gave way.

way

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

From this reading Lady Ball in Arundel Street On Christmas Day Miss Mackenzie was pressed very hard to eat her Christmas dinner with Mr and Mrs Buggins, and she almost gave way.

Why

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

From this reading Why it should be that in associating with the man she would take a step downwards, and might yet associate with the man's wife without taking any step downwards, she did not attempt to explain to herself.

wife

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

From this reading Why it should be that in associating with the man she would take a step downwards, and might yet associate with the man's wife without taking any step downwards, she did not attempt to explain to herself.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Lady Ball in Arundel Street On Christmas Day Miss Mackenzie was pressed very hard to eat her Christmas dinner with Mr and Mrs Buggins, and she almost gave way.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Why it should be that in associating with the man she would take a step downwards, and might yet associate with the man's wife without taking any step downwards, she did not attempt to explain to herself.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading She had some half-formed idea in her head that should she once sit down to table with Buggins, she would have given up the fight altogether.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading Why it should be that in associating with the man she would take a step downwards, and might yet associate with the man's wife without taking any step downwards, she did not attempt to explain to herself.