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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 "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.
adage
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From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.
answer
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From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.
becomes
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From this reading "If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.
belies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.
best
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.
browned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.
burden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.
comes
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From this reading THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.
decides
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.
discreet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.
distinctly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.
Dulce
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From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.
evergreens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.
everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading "Time tries the troth in everything."
frown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.
hesitates
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Time tries the troth in everything."
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.
lost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.
maintaining
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.
really
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.
rustle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.
says
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.
Shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.
sward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.
sway
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.
talk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.
tells
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Time tries the troth in everything."
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.
THOMAS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --THOMAS TUSSER.
TimenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Time tries the troth in everything."
tiresome
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.
tries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Time tries the troth in everything."
troth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Time tries the troth in everything."
TUSSER
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading --THOMAS TUSSER.
uncertainly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.
voice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.
Winter's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading "If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.
worries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.