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 The platform at the upper end had been built out to form a stage, and when, late in the afternoon, the final signal had been given and the improvised curtains drew audibly apart, Clare had fair reason to plume herself on her stage-management.
acting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The head mistress attended in state with the entire staff and such of the girls as were not themselves acting.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The platform at the upper end had been built out to form a stage, and when, late in the afternoon, the final signal had been given and the improvised curtains drew audibly apart, Clare had fair reason to plume herself on her stage-management.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading To the schoolgirls the dress rehearsal was, if possible, more of an ordeal than the performances themselves.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The head mistress attended in state with the entire staff and such of the girls as were not themselves acting.
apart
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From this reading The platform at the upper end had been built out to form a stage, and when, late in the afternoon, the final signal had been given and the improvised curtains drew audibly apart, Clare had fair reason to plume herself on her stage-management.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The head mistress attended in state with the entire staff and such of the girls as were not themselves acting.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Stray relatives, unable to be present at the play proper, dotted the more distant benches, or were bestowed in the overhanging galleries, while the servants, from portly matron to jobbing gardener, clustered at the back of the hall.
attended
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The head mistress attended in state with the entire staff and such of the girls as were not themselves acting.
audibly
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From this reading The platform at the upper end had been built out to form a stage, and when, late in the afternoon, the final signal had been given and the improvised curtains drew audibly apart, Clare had fair reason to plume herself on her stage-management.
back
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From this reading Stray relatives, unable to be present at the play proper, dotted the more distant benches, or were bestowed in the overhanging galleries, while the servants, from portly matron to jobbing gardener, clustered at the back of the hall.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Stray relatives, unable to be present at the play proper, dotted the more distant benches, or were bestowed in the overhanging galleries, while the servants, from portly matron to jobbing gardener, clustered at the back of the hall.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The platform at the upper end had been built out to form a stage, and when, late in the afternoon, the final signal had been given and the improvised curtains drew audibly apart, Clare had fair reason to plume herself on her stage-management.
benches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stray relatives, unable to be present at the play proper, dotted the more distant benches, or were bestowed in the overhanging galleries, while the servants, from portly matron to jobbing gardener, clustered at the back of the hall.
bestowed
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From this reading Stray relatives, unable to be present at the play proper, dotted the more distant benches, or were bestowed in the overhanging galleries, while the servants, from portly matron to jobbing gardener, clustered at the back of the hall.
blinds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long blinds of the windows had been let down and shut out the sceptical sunshine; and the candle footlights, flickering unprofessionally, mellowed the paintwork and patterned the home-made scenery with re-echoing lights, pools of unaccountable shadow, and shaftlike, wavering, prismatic gleams, flinging over the crude stage-setting a veil of fantastic charm.
built
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From this reading The platform at the upper end had been built out to form a stage, and when, late in the afternoon, the final signal had been given and the improvised curtains drew audibly apart, Clare had fair reason to plume herself on her stage-management.
candle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long blinds of the windows had been let down and shut out the sceptical sunshine; and the candle footlights, flickering unprofessionally, mellowed the paintwork and patterned the home-made scenery with re-echoing lights, pools of unaccountable shadow, and shaftlike, wavering, prismatic gleams, flinging over the crude stage-setting a veil of fantastic charm.
charm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long blinds of the windows had been let down and shut out the sceptical sunshine; and the candle footlights, flickering unprofessionally, mellowed the paintwork and patterned the home-made scenery with re-echoing lights, pools of unaccountable shadow, and shaftlike, wavering, prismatic gleams, flinging over the crude stage-setting a veil of fantastic charm.
Clare
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From this reading The platform at the upper end had been built out to form a stage, and when, late in the afternoon, the final signal had been given and the improvised curtains drew audibly apart, Clare had fair reason to plume herself on her stage-management.
clustered
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From this reading Stray relatives, unable to be present at the play proper, dotted the more distant benches, or were bestowed in the overhanging galleries, while the servants, from portly matron to jobbing gardener, clustered at the back of the hall.
crude
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long blinds of the windows had been let down and shut out the sceptical sunshine; and the candle footlights, flickering unprofessionally, mellowed the paintwork and patterned the home-made scenery with re-echoing lights, pools of unaccountable shadow, and shaftlike, wavering, prismatic gleams, flinging over the crude stage-setting a veil of fantastic charm.
curtains
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The platform at the upper end had been built out to form a stage, and when, late in the afternoon, the final signal had been given and the improvised curtains drew audibly apart, Clare had fair reason to plume herself on her stage-management.
distantadjectiveUS /ˈdɪstənt/
not friendly or close
From this reading Stray relatives, unable to be present at the play proper, dotted the more distant benches, or were bestowed in the overhanging galleries, while the servants, from portly matron to jobbing gardener, clustered at the back of the hall.
dotted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stray relatives, unable to be present at the play proper, dotted the more distant benches, or were bestowed in the overhanging galleries, while the servants, from portly matron to jobbing gardener, clustered at the back of the hall.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long blinds of the windows had been let down and shut out the sceptical sunshine; and the candle footlights, flickering unprofessionally, mellowed the paintwork and patterned the home-made scenery with re-echoing lights, pools of unaccountable shadow, and shaftlike, wavering, prismatic gleams, flinging over the crude stage-setting a veil of fantastic charm.
dress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To the schoolgirls the dress rehearsal was, if possible, more of an ordeal than the performances themselves.
drewnounUS /drew/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The platform at the upper end had been built out to form a stage, and when, late in the afternoon, the final signal had been given and the improvised curtains drew audibly apart, Clare had fair reason to plume herself on her stage-management.
end
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The platform at the upper end had been built out to form a stage, and when, late in the afternoon, the final signal had been given and the improvised curtains drew audibly apart, Clare had fair reason to plume herself on her stage-management.
entire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The head mistress attended in state with the entire staff and such of the girls as were not themselves acting.
fairnounUS /fair/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The platform at the upper end had been built out to form a stage, and when, late in the afternoon, the final signal had been given and the improvised curtains drew audibly apart, Clare had fair reason to plume herself on her stage-management.
fantastic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long blinds of the windows had been let down and shut out the sceptical sunshine; and the candle footlights, flickering unprofessionally, mellowed the paintwork and patterned the home-made scenery with re-echoing lights, pools of unaccountable shadow, and shaftlike, wavering, prismatic gleams, flinging over the crude stage-setting a veil of fantastic charm.
final
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The platform at the upper end had been built out to form a stage, and when, late in the afternoon, the final signal had been given and the improvised curtains drew audibly apart, Clare had fair reason to plume herself on her stage-management.
flickering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long blinds of the windows had been let down and shut out the sceptical sunshine; and the candle footlights, flickering unprofessionally, mellowed the paintwork and patterned the home-made scenery with re-echoing lights, pools of unaccountable shadow, and shaftlike, wavering, prismatic gleams, flinging over the crude stage-setting a veil of fantastic charm.
flinging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long blinds of the windows had been let down and shut out the sceptical sunshine; and the candle footlights, flickering unprofessionally, mellowed the paintwork and patterned the home-made scenery with re-echoing lights, pools of unaccountable shadow, and shaftlike, wavering, prismatic gleams, flinging over the crude stage-setting a veil of fantastic charm.
footlights
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long blinds of the windows had been let down and shut out the sceptical sunshine; and the candle footlights, flickering unprofessionally, mellowed the paintwork and patterned the home-made scenery with re-echoing lights, pools of unaccountable shadow, and shaftlike, wavering, prismatic gleams, flinging over the crude stage-setting a veil of fantastic charm.
form
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The platform at the upper end had been built out to form a stage, and when, late in the afternoon, the final signal had been given and the improvised curtains drew audibly apart, Clare had fair reason to plume herself on her stage-management.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Stray relatives, unable to be present at the play proper, dotted the more distant benches, or were bestowed in the overhanging galleries, while the servants, from portly matron to jobbing gardener, clustered at the back of the hall.
galleries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stray relatives, unable to be present at the play proper, dotted the more distant benches, or were bestowed in the overhanging galleries, while the servants, from portly matron to jobbing gardener, clustered at the back of the hall.
gardener
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stray relatives, unable to be present at the play proper, dotted the more distant benches, or were bestowed in the overhanging galleries, while the servants, from portly matron to jobbing gardener, clustered at the back of the hall.
girls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The head mistress attended in state with the entire staff and such of the girls as were not themselves acting.
given
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The platform at the upper end had been built out to form a stage, and when, late in the afternoon, the final signal had been given and the improvised curtains drew audibly apart, Clare had fair reason to plume herself on her stage-management.
gleams
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long blinds of the windows had been let down and shut out the sceptical sunshine; and the candle footlights, flickering unprofessionally, mellowed the paintwork and patterned the home-made scenery with re-echoing lights, pools of unaccountable shadow, and shaftlike, wavering, prismatic gleams, flinging over the crude stage-setting a veil of fantastic charm.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The platform at the upper end had been built out to form a stage, and when, late in the afternoon, the final signal had been given and the improvised curtains drew audibly apart, Clare had fair reason to plume herself on her stage-management.
hall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stray relatives, unable to be present at the play proper, dotted the more distant benches, or were bestowed in the overhanging galleries, while the servants, from portly matron to jobbing gardener, clustered at the back of the hall.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The head mistress attended in state with the entire staff and such of the girls as were not themselves acting.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The platform at the upper end had been built out to form a stage, and when, late in the afternoon, the final signal had been given and the improvised curtains drew audibly apart, Clare had fair reason to plume herself on her stage-management.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading The platform at the upper end had been built out to form a stage, and when, late in the afternoon, the final signal had been given and the improvised curtains drew audibly apart, Clare had fair reason to plume herself on her stage-management.
home-made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long blinds of the windows had been let down and shut out the sceptical sunshine; and the candle footlights, flickering unprofessionally, mellowed the paintwork and patterned the home-made scenery with re-echoing lights, pools of unaccountable shadow, and shaftlike, wavering, prismatic gleams, flinging over the crude stage-setting a veil of fantastic charm.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading To the schoolgirls the dress rehearsal was, if possible, more of an ordeal than the performances themselves.
improvised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The platform at the upper end had been built out to form a stage, and when, late in the afternoon, the final signal had been given and the improvised curtains drew audibly apart, Clare had fair reason to plume herself on her stage-management.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The head mistress attended in state with the entire staff and such of the girls as were not themselves acting.
jobbing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stray relatives, unable to be present at the play proper, dotted the more distant benches, or were bestowed in the overhanging galleries, while the servants, from portly matron to jobbing gardener, clustered at the back of the hall.
late
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The platform at the upper end had been built out to form a stage, and when, late in the afternoon, the final signal had been given and the improvised curtains drew audibly apart, Clare had fair reason to plume herself on her stage-management.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading The long blinds of the windows had been let down and shut out the sceptical sunshine; and the candle footlights, flickering unprofessionally, mellowed the paintwork and patterned the home-made scenery with re-echoing lights, pools of unaccountable shadow, and shaftlike, wavering, prismatic gleams, flinging over the crude stage-setting a veil of fantastic charm.
lights
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long blinds of the windows had been let down and shut out the sceptical sunshine; and the candle footlights, flickering unprofessionally, mellowed the paintwork and patterned the home-made scenery with re-echoing lights, pools of unaccountable shadow, and shaftlike, wavering, prismatic gleams, flinging over the crude stage-setting a veil of fantastic charm.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The long blinds of the windows had been let down and shut out the sceptical sunshine; and the candle footlights, flickering unprofessionally, mellowed the paintwork and patterned the home-made scenery with re-echoing lights, pools of unaccountable shadow, and shaftlike, wavering, prismatic gleams, flinging over the crude stage-setting a veil of fantastic charm.
matron
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stray relatives, unable to be present at the play proper, dotted the more distant benches, or were bestowed in the overhanging galleries, while the servants, from portly matron to jobbing gardener, clustered at the back of the hall.
mellowed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long blinds of the windows had been let down and shut out the sceptical sunshine; and the candle footlights, flickering unprofessionally, mellowed the paintwork and patterned the home-made scenery with re-echoing lights, pools of unaccountable shadow, and shaftlike, wavering, prismatic gleams, flinging over the crude stage-setting a veil of fantastic charm.
mistress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The head mistress attended in state with the entire staff and such of the girls as were not themselves acting.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To the schoolgirls the dress rehearsal was, if possible, more of an ordeal than the performances themselves.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The head mistress attended in state with the entire staff and such of the girls as were not themselves acting.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading To the schoolgirls the dress rehearsal was, if possible, more of an ordeal than the performances themselves.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The platform at the upper end had been built out to form a stage, and when, late in the afternoon, the final signal had been given and the improvised curtains drew audibly apart, Clare had fair reason to plume herself on her stage-management.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Stray relatives, unable to be present at the play proper, dotted the more distant benches, or were bestowed in the overhanging galleries, while the servants, from portly matron to jobbing gardener, clustered at the back of the hall.
ordeal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To the schoolgirls the dress rehearsal was, if possible, more of an ordeal than the performances themselves.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The platform at the upper end had been built out to form a stage, and when, late in the afternoon, the final signal had been given and the improvised curtains drew audibly apart, Clare had fair reason to plume herself on her stage-management.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The long blinds of the windows had been let down and shut out the sceptical sunshine; and the candle footlights, flickering unprofessionally, mellowed the paintwork and patterned the home-made scenery with re-echoing lights, pools of unaccountable shadow, and shaftlike, wavering, prismatic gleams, flinging over the crude stage-setting a veil of fantastic charm.
overhanging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stray relatives, unable to be present at the play proper, dotted the more distant benches, or were bestowed in the overhanging galleries, while the servants, from portly matron to jobbing gardener, clustered at the back of the hall.
paintwork
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long blinds of the windows had been let down and shut out the sceptical sunshine; and the candle footlights, flickering unprofessionally, mellowed the paintwork and patterned the home-made scenery with re-echoing lights, pools of unaccountable shadow, and shaftlike, wavering, prismatic gleams, flinging over the crude stage-setting a veil of fantastic charm.
patterned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long blinds of the windows had been let down and shut out the sceptical sunshine; and the candle footlights, flickering unprofessionally, mellowed the paintwork and patterned the home-made scenery with re-echoing lights, pools of unaccountable shadow, and shaftlike, wavering, prismatic gleams, flinging over the crude stage-setting a veil of fantastic charm.
performances
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To the schoolgirls the dress rehearsal was, if possible, more of an ordeal than the performances themselves.
platform
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The platform at the upper end had been built out to form a stage, and when, late in the afternoon, the final signal had been given and the improvised curtains drew audibly apart, Clare had fair reason to plume herself on her stage-management.
play
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stray relatives, unable to be present at the play proper, dotted the more distant benches, or were bestowed in the overhanging galleries, while the servants, from portly matron to jobbing gardener, clustered at the back of the hall.
plume
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The platform at the upper end had been built out to form a stage, and when, late in the afternoon, the final signal had been given and the improvised curtains drew audibly apart, Clare had fair reason to plume herself on her stage-management.
pools
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long blinds of the windows had been let down and shut out the sceptical sunshine; and the candle footlights, flickering unprofessionally, mellowed the paintwork and patterned the home-made scenery with re-echoing lights, pools of unaccountable shadow, and shaftlike, wavering, prismatic gleams, flinging over the crude stage-setting a veil of fantastic charm.
portly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stray relatives, unable to be present at the play proper, dotted the more distant benches, or were bestowed in the overhanging galleries, while the servants, from portly matron to jobbing gardener, clustered at the back of the hall.
possible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To the schoolgirls the dress rehearsal was, if possible, more of an ordeal than the performances themselves.
present
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stray relatives, unable to be present at the play proper, dotted the more distant benches, or were bestowed in the overhanging galleries, while the servants, from portly matron to jobbing gardener, clustered at the back of the hall.
prismatic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long blinds of the windows had been let down and shut out the sceptical sunshine; and the candle footlights, flickering unprofessionally, mellowed the paintwork and patterned the home-made scenery with re-echoing lights, pools of unaccountable shadow, and shaftlike, wavering, prismatic gleams, flinging over the crude stage-setting a veil of fantastic charm.
proper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stray relatives, unable to be present at the play proper, dotted the more distant benches, or were bestowed in the overhanging galleries, while the servants, from portly matron to jobbing gardener, clustered at the back of the hall.
re-echoing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long blinds of the windows had been let down and shut out the sceptical sunshine; and the candle footlights, flickering unprofessionally, mellowed the paintwork and patterned the home-made scenery with re-echoing lights, pools of unaccountable shadow, and shaftlike, wavering, prismatic gleams, flinging over the crude stage-setting a veil of fantastic charm.
reason
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The platform at the upper end had been built out to form a stage, and when, late in the afternoon, the final signal had been given and the improvised curtains drew audibly apart, Clare had fair reason to plume herself on her stage-management.
rehearsal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To the schoolgirls the dress rehearsal was, if possible, more of an ordeal than the performances themselves.
relatives
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stray relatives, unable to be present at the play proper, dotted the more distant benches, or were bestowed in the overhanging galleries, while the servants, from portly matron to jobbing gardener, clustered at the back of the hall.
scenery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long blinds of the windows had been let down and shut out the sceptical sunshine; and the candle footlights, flickering unprofessionally, mellowed the paintwork and patterned the home-made scenery with re-echoing lights, pools of unaccountable shadow, and shaftlike, wavering, prismatic gleams, flinging over the crude stage-setting a veil of fantastic charm.
sceptical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long blinds of the windows had been let down and shut out the sceptical sunshine; and the candle footlights, flickering unprofessionally, mellowed the paintwork and patterned the home-made scenery with re-echoing lights, pools of unaccountable shadow, and shaftlike, wavering, prismatic gleams, flinging over the crude stage-setting a veil of fantastic charm.
schoolgirls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To the schoolgirls the dress rehearsal was, if possible, more of an ordeal than the performances themselves.
servants
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stray relatives, unable to be present at the play proper, dotted the more distant benches, or were bestowed in the overhanging galleries, while the servants, from portly matron to jobbing gardener, clustered at the back of the hall.
shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading The long blinds of the windows had been let down and shut out the sceptical sunshine; and the candle footlights, flickering unprofessionally, mellowed the paintwork and patterned the home-made scenery with re-echoing lights, pools of unaccountable shadow, and shaftlike, wavering, prismatic gleams, flinging over the crude stage-setting a veil of fantastic charm.
shaftlike
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long blinds of the windows had been let down and shut out the sceptical sunshine; and the candle footlights, flickering unprofessionally, mellowed the paintwork and patterned the home-made scenery with re-echoing lights, pools of unaccountable shadow, and shaftlike, wavering, prismatic gleams, flinging over the crude stage-setting a veil of fantastic charm.
shut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long blinds of the windows had been let down and shut out the sceptical sunshine; and the candle footlights, flickering unprofessionally, mellowed the paintwork and patterned the home-made scenery with re-echoing lights, pools of unaccountable shadow, and shaftlike, wavering, prismatic gleams, flinging over the crude stage-setting a veil of fantastic charm.
signal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The platform at the upper end had been built out to form a stage, and when, late in the afternoon, the final signal had been given and the improvised curtains drew audibly apart, Clare had fair reason to plume herself on her stage-management.
staff
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The head mistress attended in state with the entire staff and such of the girls as were not themselves acting.
stage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The platform at the upper end had been built out to form a stage, and when, late in the afternoon, the final signal had been given and the improvised curtains drew audibly apart, Clare had fair reason to plume herself on her stage-management.
stage-management
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The platform at the upper end had been built out to form a stage, and when, late in the afternoon, the final signal had been given and the improvised curtains drew audibly apart, Clare had fair reason to plume herself on her stage-management.
stage-setting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long blinds of the windows had been let down and shut out the sceptical sunshine; and the candle footlights, flickering unprofessionally, mellowed the paintwork and patterned the home-made scenery with re-echoing lights, pools of unaccountable shadow, and shaftlike, wavering, prismatic gleams, flinging over the crude stage-setting a veil of fantastic charm.
state
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The head mistress attended in state with the entire staff and such of the girls as were not themselves acting.
Stray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stray relatives, unable to be present at the play proper, dotted the more distant benches, or were bestowed in the overhanging galleries, while the servants, from portly matron to jobbing gardener, clustered at the back of the hall.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The head mistress attended in state with the entire staff and such of the girls as were not themselves acting.
sunshine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long blinds of the windows had been let down and shut out the sceptical sunshine; and the candle footlights, flickering unprofessionally, mellowed the paintwork and patterned the home-made scenery with re-echoing lights, pools of unaccountable shadow, and shaftlike, wavering, prismatic gleams, flinging over the crude stage-setting a veil of fantastic charm.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading To the schoolgirls the dress rehearsal was, if possible, more of an ordeal than the performances themselves.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading To the schoolgirls the dress rehearsal was, if possible, more of an ordeal than the performances themselves.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading To the schoolgirls the dress rehearsal was, if possible, more of an ordeal than the performances themselves.
ToparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To the schoolgirls the dress rehearsal was, if possible, more of an ordeal than the performances themselves.
unable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stray relatives, unable to be present at the play proper, dotted the more distant benches, or were bestowed in the overhanging galleries, while the servants, from portly matron to jobbing gardener, clustered at the back of the hall.
unaccountable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long blinds of the windows had been let down and shut out the sceptical sunshine; and the candle footlights, flickering unprofessionally, mellowed the paintwork and patterned the home-made scenery with re-echoing lights, pools of unaccountable shadow, and shaftlike, wavering, prismatic gleams, flinging over the crude stage-setting a veil of fantastic charm.
unprofessionally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long blinds of the windows had been let down and shut out the sceptical sunshine; and the candle footlights, flickering unprofessionally, mellowed the paintwork and patterned the home-made scenery with re-echoing lights, pools of unaccountable shadow, and shaftlike, wavering, prismatic gleams, flinging over the crude stage-setting a veil of fantastic charm.
upper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The platform at the upper end had been built out to form a stage, and when, late in the afternoon, the final signal had been given and the improvised curtains drew audibly apart, Clare had fair reason to plume herself on her stage-management.
veil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long blinds of the windows had been let down and shut out the sceptical sunshine; and the candle footlights, flickering unprofessionally, mellowed the paintwork and patterned the home-made scenery with re-echoing lights, pools of unaccountable shadow, and shaftlike, wavering, prismatic gleams, flinging over the crude stage-setting a veil of fantastic charm.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading To the schoolgirls the dress rehearsal was, if possible, more of an ordeal than the performances themselves.
wavering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long blinds of the windows had been let down and shut out the sceptical sunshine; and the candle footlights, flickering unprofessionally, mellowed the paintwork and patterned the home-made scenery with re-echoing lights, pools of unaccountable shadow, and shaftlike, wavering, prismatic gleams, flinging over the crude stage-setting a veil of fantastic charm.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The head mistress attended in state with the entire staff and such of the girls as were not themselves acting.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The platform at the upper end had been built out to form a stage, and when, late in the afternoon, the final signal had been given and the improvised curtains drew audibly apart, Clare had fair reason to plume herself on her stage-management.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Stray relatives, unable to be present at the play proper, dotted the more distant benches, or were bestowed in the overhanging galleries, while the servants, from portly matron to jobbing gardener, clustered at the back of the hall.
windows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long blinds of the windows had been let down and shut out the sceptical sunshine; and the candle footlights, flickering unprofessionally, mellowed the paintwork and patterned the home-made scenery with re-echoing lights, pools of unaccountable shadow, and shaftlike, wavering, prismatic gleams, flinging over the crude stage-setting a veil of fantastic charm.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The head mistress attended in state with the entire staff and such of the girls as were not themselves acting.
