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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 Thus there is not the slightest reason in the world why the fair creature should knit me a pair of pulse-warmers or send me the poems of Noyes, or even write me a polite note.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading At the very start, indeed, she set up barriers against gratitude, for her decision to ask a favor of me was, in a subtle sense, a judgment of my inferiority.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Confronted by a choice between this sort of shame and the incomparably less uncomfortable shame of violating a social convention and an article of popular morals, secretly and without danger of exposure, she very sensibly chooses the more innocuous of the two.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If she did any of these things, she would feel herself a hypocrite and hence stand embarrassed before the mirror of her own thoughts.
any
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From this reading If she did any of these things, she would feel herself a hypocrite and hence stand embarrassed before the mirror of her own thoughts.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading One does not ask favors, if it can be avoided, of persons one genuinely respects; one puts such burdens upon the naïve and colorless, upon what are called the good natured; in brief, upon one's inferiors.
article
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Confronted by a choice between this sort of shame and the incomparably less uncomfortable shame of violating a social convention and an article of popular morals, secretly and without danger of exposure, she very sensibly chooses the more innocuous of the two.
ask
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From this reading At the very start, indeed, she set up barriers against gratitude, for her decision to ask a favor of me was, in a subtle sense, a judgment of my inferiority.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the very start, indeed, she set up barriers against gratitude, for her decision to ask a favor of me was, in a subtle sense, a judgment of my inferiority.
avoided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One does not ask favors, if it can be avoided, of persons one genuinely respects; one puts such burdens upon the naïve and colorless, upon what are called the good natured; in brief, upon one's inferiors.
barriers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the very start, indeed, she set up barriers against gratitude, for her decision to ask a favor of me was, in a subtle sense, a judgment of my inferiority.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading One does not ask favors, if it can be avoided, of persons one genuinely respects; one puts such burdens upon the naïve and colorless, upon what are called the good natured; in brief, upon one's inferiors.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading If she did any of these things, she would feel herself a hypocrite and hence stand embarrassed before the mirror of her own thoughts.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Confronted by a choice between this sort of shame and the incomparably less uncomfortable shame of violating a social convention and an article of popular morals, secretly and without danger of exposure, she very sensibly chooses the more innocuous of the two.
brief
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From this reading One does not ask favors, if it can be avoided, of persons one genuinely respects; one puts such burdens upon the naïve and colorless, upon what are called the good natured; in brief, upon one's inferiors.
burdens
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From this reading One does not ask favors, if it can be avoided, of persons one genuinely respects; one puts such burdens upon the naïve and colorless, upon what are called the good natured; in brief, upon one's inferiors.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Confronted by a choice between this sort of shame and the incomparably less uncomfortable shame of violating a social convention and an article of popular morals, secretly and without danger of exposure, she very sensibly chooses the more innocuous of the two.
called
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From this reading One does not ask favors, if it can be avoided, of persons one genuinely respects; one puts such burdens upon the naïve and colorless, upon what are called the good natured; in brief, upon one's inferiors.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading One does not ask favors, if it can be avoided, of persons one genuinely respects; one puts such burdens upon the naïve and colorless, upon what are called the good natured; in brief, upon one's inferiors.
choice
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From this reading Confronted by a choice between this sort of shame and the incomparably less uncomfortable shame of violating a social convention and an article of popular morals, secretly and without danger of exposure, she very sensibly chooses the more innocuous of the two.
chooses
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From this reading Confronted by a choice between this sort of shame and the incomparably less uncomfortable shame of violating a social convention and an article of popular morals, secretly and without danger of exposure, she very sensibly chooses the more innocuous of the two.
colorless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One does not ask favors, if it can be avoided, of persons one genuinely respects; one puts such burdens upon the naïve and colorless, upon what are called the good natured; in brief, upon one's inferiors.
Confronted
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From this reading Confronted by a choice between this sort of shame and the incomparably less uncomfortable shame of violating a social convention and an article of popular morals, secretly and without danger of exposure, she very sensibly chooses the more innocuous of the two.
convention
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Confronted by a choice between this sort of shame and the incomparably less uncomfortable shame of violating a social convention and an article of popular morals, secretly and without danger of exposure, she very sensibly chooses the more innocuous of the two.
creaturenounUS /ˈcreature/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Thus there is not the slightest reason in the world why the fair creature should knit me a pair of pulse-warmers or send me the poems of Noyes, or even write me a polite note.
danger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Confronted by a choice between this sort of shame and the incomparably less uncomfortable shame of violating a social convention and an article of popular morals, secretly and without danger of exposure, she very sensibly chooses the more innocuous of the two.
decision
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the very start, indeed, she set up barriers against gratitude, for her decision to ask a favor of me was, in a subtle sense, a judgment of my inferiority.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading If she did any of these things, she would feel herself a hypocrite and hence stand embarrassed before the mirror of her own thoughts.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading One does not ask favors, if it can be avoided, of persons one genuinely respects; one puts such burdens upon the naïve and colorless, upon what are called the good natured; in brief, upon one's inferiors.
embarrassed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she did any of these things, she would feel herself a hypocrite and hence stand embarrassed before the mirror of her own thoughts.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Thus there is not the slightest reason in the world why the fair creature should knit me a pair of pulse-warmers or send me the poems of Noyes, or even write me a polite note.
exposure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Confronted by a choice between this sort of shame and the incomparably less uncomfortable shame of violating a social convention and an article of popular morals, secretly and without danger of exposure, she very sensibly chooses the more innocuous of the two.
fairnounUS /fair/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Thus there is not the slightest reason in the world why the fair creature should knit me a pair of pulse-warmers or send me the poems of Noyes, or even write me a polite note.
favor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the very start, indeed, she set up barriers against gratitude, for her decision to ask a favor of me was, in a subtle sense, a judgment of my inferiority.
favors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One does not ask favors, if it can be avoided, of persons one genuinely respects; one puts such burdens upon the naïve and colorless, upon what are called the good natured; in brief, upon one's inferiors.
feel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she did any of these things, she would feel herself a hypocrite and hence stand embarrassed before the mirror of her own thoughts.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading At the very start, indeed, she set up barriers against gratitude, for her decision to ask a favor of me was, in a subtle sense, a judgment of my inferiority.
genuinely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One does not ask favors, if it can be avoided, of persons one genuinely respects; one puts such burdens upon the naïve and colorless, upon what are called the good natured; in brief, upon one's inferiors.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One does not ask favors, if it can be avoided, of persons one genuinely respects; one puts such burdens upon the naïve and colorless, upon what are called the good natured; in brief, upon one's inferiors.
gratitude
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the very start, indeed, she set up barriers against gratitude, for her decision to ask a favor of me was, in a subtle sense, a judgment of my inferiority.
henceadverbUS /hens/
for this reason
From this reading If she did any of these things, she would feel herself a hypocrite and hence stand embarrassed before the mirror of her own thoughts.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading If she did any of these things, she would feel herself a hypocrite and hence stand embarrassed before the mirror of her own thoughts.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading If she did any of these things, she would feel herself a hypocrite and hence stand embarrassed before the mirror of her own thoughts.
hypocrite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she did any of these things, she would feel herself a hypocrite and hence stand embarrassed before the mirror of her own thoughts.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If she did any of these things, she would feel herself a hypocrite and hence stand embarrassed before the mirror of her own thoughts.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Thus there is not the slightest reason in the world why the fair creature should knit me a pair of pulse-warmers or send me the poems of Noyes, or even write me a polite note.
incomparably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Confronted by a choice between this sort of shame and the incomparably less uncomfortable shame of violating a social convention and an article of popular morals, secretly and without danger of exposure, she very sensibly chooses the more innocuous of the two.
indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the very start, indeed, she set up barriers against gratitude, for her decision to ask a favor of me was, in a subtle sense, a judgment of my inferiority.
inferiority
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the very start, indeed, she set up barriers against gratitude, for her decision to ask a favor of me was, in a subtle sense, a judgment of my inferiority.
inferiors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One does not ask favors, if it can be avoided, of persons one genuinely respects; one puts such burdens upon the naïve and colorless, upon what are called the good natured; in brief, upon one's inferiors.
innocuous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Confronted by a choice between this sort of shame and the incomparably less uncomfortable shame of violating a social convention and an article of popular morals, secretly and without danger of exposure, she very sensibly chooses the more innocuous of the two.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Thus there is not the slightest reason in the world why the fair creature should knit me a pair of pulse-warmers or send me the poems of Noyes, or even write me a polite note.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading One does not ask favors, if it can be avoided, of persons one genuinely respects; one puts such burdens upon the naïve and colorless, upon what are called the good natured; in brief, upon one's inferiors.
judgment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the very start, indeed, she set up barriers against gratitude, for her decision to ask a favor of me was, in a subtle sense, a judgment of my inferiority.
knit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus there is not the slightest reason in the world why the fair creature should knit me a pair of pulse-warmers or send me the poems of Noyes, or even write me a polite note.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Confronted by a choice between this sort of shame and the incomparably less uncomfortable shame of violating a social convention and an article of popular morals, secretly and without danger of exposure, she very sensibly chooses the more innocuous of the two.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Thus there is not the slightest reason in the world why the fair creature should knit me a pair of pulse-warmers or send me the poems of Noyes, or even write me a polite note.
mirror
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she did any of these things, she would feel herself a hypocrite and hence stand embarrassed before the mirror of her own thoughts.
morals
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Confronted by a choice between this sort of shame and the incomparably less uncomfortable shame of violating a social convention and an article of popular morals, secretly and without danger of exposure, she very sensibly chooses the more innocuous of the two.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Confronted by a choice between this sort of shame and the incomparably less uncomfortable shame of violating a social convention and an article of popular morals, secretly and without danger of exposure, she very sensibly chooses the more innocuous of the two.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading At the very start, indeed, she set up barriers against gratitude, for her decision to ask a favor of me was, in a subtle sense, a judgment of my inferiority.
natured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One does not ask favors, if it can be avoided, of persons one genuinely respects; one puts such burdens upon the naïve and colorless, upon what are called the good natured; in brief, upon one's inferiors.
naïve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One does not ask favors, if it can be avoided, of persons one genuinely respects; one puts such burdens upon the naïve and colorless, upon what are called the good natured; in brief, upon one's inferiors.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Thus there is not the slightest reason in the world why the fair creature should knit me a pair of pulse-warmers or send me the poems of Noyes, or even write me a polite note.
note
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus there is not the slightest reason in the world why the fair creature should knit me a pair of pulse-warmers or send me the poems of Noyes, or even write me a polite note.
Noyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus there is not the slightest reason in the world why the fair creature should knit me a pair of pulse-warmers or send me the poems of Noyes, or even write me a polite note.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Thus there is not the slightest reason in the world why the fair creature should knit me a pair of pulse-warmers or send me the poems of Noyes, or even write me a polite note.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One does not ask favors, if it can be avoided, of persons one genuinely respects; one puts such burdens upon the naïve and colorless, upon what are called the good natured; in brief, upon one's inferiors.
one's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One does not ask favors, if it can be avoided, of persons one genuinely respects; one puts such burdens upon the naïve and colorless, upon what are called the good natured; in brief, upon one's inferiors.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Thus there is not the slightest reason in the world why the fair creature should knit me a pair of pulse-warmers or send me the poems of Noyes, or even write me a polite note.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she did any of these things, she would feel herself a hypocrite and hence stand embarrassed before the mirror of her own thoughts.
pair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus there is not the slightest reason in the world why the fair creature should knit me a pair of pulse-warmers or send me the poems of Noyes, or even write me a polite note.
persons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One does not ask favors, if it can be avoided, of persons one genuinely respects; one puts such burdens upon the naïve and colorless, upon what are called the good natured; in brief, upon one's inferiors.
poems
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus there is not the slightest reason in the world why the fair creature should knit me a pair of pulse-warmers or send me the poems of Noyes, or even write me a polite note.
polite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus there is not the slightest reason in the world why the fair creature should knit me a pair of pulse-warmers or send me the poems of Noyes, or even write me a polite note.
popular
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Confronted by a choice between this sort of shame and the incomparably less uncomfortable shame of violating a social convention and an article of popular morals, secretly and without danger of exposure, she very sensibly chooses the more innocuous of the two.
pulse-warmers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus there is not the slightest reason in the world why the fair creature should knit me a pair of pulse-warmers or send me the poems of Noyes, or even write me a polite note.
puts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One does not ask favors, if it can be avoided, of persons one genuinely respects; one puts such burdens upon the naïve and colorless, upon what are called the good natured; in brief, upon one's inferiors.
reason
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus there is not the slightest reason in the world why the fair creature should knit me a pair of pulse-warmers or send me the poems of Noyes, or even write me a polite note.
respects
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One does not ask favors, if it can be avoided, of persons one genuinely respects; one puts such burdens upon the naïve and colorless, upon what are called the good natured; in brief, upon one's inferiors.
secretly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Confronted by a choice between this sort of shame and the incomparably less uncomfortable shame of violating a social convention and an article of popular morals, secretly and without danger of exposure, she very sensibly chooses the more innocuous of the two.
send
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus there is not the slightest reason in the world why the fair creature should knit me a pair of pulse-warmers or send me the poems of Noyes, or even write me a polite note.
sense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the very start, indeed, she set up barriers against gratitude, for her decision to ask a favor of me was, in a subtle sense, a judgment of my inferiority.
sensibly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Confronted by a choice between this sort of shame and the incomparably less uncomfortable shame of violating a social convention and an article of popular morals, secretly and without danger of exposure, she very sensibly chooses the more innocuous of the two.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the very start, indeed, she set up barriers against gratitude, for her decision to ask a favor of me was, in a subtle sense, a judgment of my inferiority.
shame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Confronted by a choice between this sort of shame and the incomparably less uncomfortable shame of violating a social convention and an article of popular morals, secretly and without danger of exposure, she very sensibly chooses the more innocuous of the two.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If she did any of these things, she would feel herself a hypocrite and hence stand embarrassed before the mirror of her own thoughts.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Thus there is not the slightest reason in the world why the fair creature should knit me a pair of pulse-warmers or send me the poems of Noyes, or even write me a polite note.
slightest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus there is not the slightest reason in the world why the fair creature should knit me a pair of pulse-warmers or send me the poems of Noyes, or even write me a polite note.
social
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Confronted by a choice between this sort of shame and the incomparably less uncomfortable shame of violating a social convention and an article of popular morals, secretly and without danger of exposure, she very sensibly chooses the more innocuous of the two.
sort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Confronted by a choice between this sort of shame and the incomparably less uncomfortable shame of violating a social convention and an article of popular morals, secretly and without danger of exposure, she very sensibly chooses the more innocuous of the two.
stand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she did any of these things, she would feel herself a hypocrite and hence stand embarrassed before the mirror of her own thoughts.
startnounUS /start/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At the very start, indeed, she set up barriers against gratitude, for her decision to ask a favor of me was, in a subtle sense, a judgment of my inferiority.
subtle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the very start, indeed, she set up barriers against gratitude, for her decision to ask a favor of me was, in a subtle sense, a judgment of my inferiority.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading One does not ask favors, if it can be avoided, of persons one genuinely respects; one puts such burdens upon the naïve and colorless, upon what are called the good natured; in brief, upon one's inferiors.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Thus there is not the slightest reason in the world why the fair creature should knit me a pair of pulse-warmers or send me the poems of Noyes, or even write me a polite note.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus there is not the slightest reason in the world why the fair creature should knit me a pair of pulse-warmers or send me the poems of Noyes, or even write me a polite note.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading If she did any of these things, she would feel herself a hypocrite and hence stand embarrassed before the mirror of her own thoughts.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she did any of these things, she would feel herself a hypocrite and hence stand embarrassed before the mirror of her own thoughts.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Confronted by a choice between this sort of shame and the incomparably less uncomfortable shame of violating a social convention and an article of popular morals, secretly and without danger of exposure, she very sensibly chooses the more innocuous of the two.
thoughts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If she did any of these things, she would feel herself a hypocrite and hence stand embarrassed before the mirror of her own thoughts.
Thus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus there is not the slightest reason in the world why the fair creature should knit me a pair of pulse-warmers or send me the poems of Noyes, or even write me a polite note.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At the very start, indeed, she set up barriers against gratitude, for her decision to ask a favor of me was, in a subtle sense, a judgment of my inferiority.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Confronted by a choice between this sort of shame and the incomparably less uncomfortable shame of violating a social convention and an article of popular morals, secretly and without danger of exposure, she very sensibly chooses the more innocuous of the two.
uncomfortable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Confronted by a choice between this sort of shame and the incomparably less uncomfortable shame of violating a social convention and an article of popular morals, secretly and without danger of exposure, she very sensibly chooses the more innocuous of the two.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the very start, indeed, she set up barriers against gratitude, for her decision to ask a favor of me was, in a subtle sense, a judgment of my inferiority.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading One does not ask favors, if it can be avoided, of persons one genuinely respects; one puts such burdens upon the naïve and colorless, upon what are called the good natured; in brief, upon one's inferiors.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Confronted by a choice between this sort of shame and the incomparably less uncomfortable shame of violating a social convention and an article of popular morals, secretly and without danger of exposure, she very sensibly chooses the more innocuous of the two.
violating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Confronted by a choice between this sort of shame and the incomparably less uncomfortable shame of violating a social convention and an article of popular morals, secretly and without danger of exposure, she very sensibly chooses the more innocuous of the two.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading At the very start, indeed, she set up barriers against gratitude, for her decision to ask a favor of me was, in a subtle sense, a judgment of my inferiority.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading One does not ask favors, if it can be avoided, of persons one genuinely respects; one puts such burdens upon the naïve and colorless, upon what are called the good natured; in brief, upon one's inferiors.
why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus there is not the slightest reason in the world why the fair creature should knit me a pair of pulse-warmers or send me the poems of Noyes, or even write me a polite note.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Confronted by a choice between this sort of shame and the incomparably less uncomfortable shame of violating a social convention and an article of popular morals, secretly and without danger of exposure, she very sensibly chooses the more innocuous of the two.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus there is not the slightest reason in the world why the fair creature should knit me a pair of pulse-warmers or send me the poems of Noyes, or even write me a polite note.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If she did any of these things, she would feel herself a hypocrite and hence stand embarrassed before the mirror of her own thoughts.
write
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus there is not the slightest reason in the world why the fair creature should knit me a pair of pulse-warmers or send me the poems of Noyes, or even write me a polite note.
