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 Now that she could no longer entertain, Deb refused to be entertained, much to the discontent of Frances, who pined continually for a larger and brighter life, so that the invitations fell off to nothing before the excuse of the deep mourning was worn out.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading She would be absolutely safe up there, and with her old social world about her, and old interests to occupy her mind, would recover that respect for herself which seemed to have been more or less impaired by association with suburban villadom.
absolutely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would be absolutely safe up there, and with her old social world about her, and old interests to occupy her mind, would recover that respect for herself which seemed to have been more or less impaired by association with suburban villadom.
agreed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when Mrs Urquhart, always maternally solicitous for her poor Sally's girls, wrote to beg them to spend Christmas at Five Creeks, Deb and Frances, who did not, for different reasons, wish to go themselves, agreed that it would be 'the very thing' for Rose to do so.
altogether
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And if only Jim would keep her altogether!" sighed Frances.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when Mrs Urquhart, always maternally solicitous for her poor Sally's girls, wrote to beg them to spend Christmas at Five Creeks, Deb and Frances, who did not, for different reasons, wish to go themselves, agreed that it would be 'the very thing' for Rose to do so.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Now that she could no longer entertain, Deb refused to be entertained, much to the discontent of Frances, who pined continually for a larger and brighter life, so that the invitations fell off to nothing before the excuse of the deep mourning was worn out.
association
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would be absolutely safe up there, and with her old social world about her, and old interests to occupy her mind, would recover that respect for herself which seemed to have been more or less impaired by association with suburban villadom.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But when Mrs Urquhart, always maternally solicitous for her poor Sally's girls, wrote to beg them to spend Christmas at Five Creeks, Deb and Frances, who did not, for different reasons, wish to go themselves, agreed that it would be 'the very thing' for Rose to do so.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Now that she could no longer entertain, Deb refused to be entertained, much to the discontent of Frances, who pined continually for a larger and brighter life, so that the invitations fell off to nothing before the excuse of the deep mourning was worn out.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She would be absolutely safe up there, and with her old social world about her, and old interests to occupy her mind, would recover that respect for herself which seemed to have been more or less impaired by association with suburban villadom.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Now that she could no longer entertain, Deb refused to be entertained, much to the discontent of Frances, who pined continually for a larger and brighter life, so that the invitations fell off to nothing before the excuse of the deep mourning was worn out.
beg
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when Mrs Urquhart, always maternally solicitous for her poor Sally's girls, wrote to beg them to spend Christmas at Five Creeks, Deb and Frances, who did not, for different reasons, wish to go themselves, agreed that it would be 'the very thing' for Rose to do so.
brighter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that she could no longer entertain, Deb refused to be entertained, much to the discontent of Frances, who pined continually for a larger and brighter life, so that the invitations fell off to nothing before the excuse of the deep mourning was worn out.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But when Mrs Urquhart, always maternally solicitous for her poor Sally's girls, wrote to beg them to spend Christmas at Five Creeks, Deb and Frances, who did not, for different reasons, wish to go themselves, agreed that it would be 'the very thing' for Rose to do so.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She would be absolutely safe up there, and with her old social world about her, and old interests to occupy her mind, would recover that respect for herself which seemed to have been more or less impaired by association with suburban villadom.
Christmas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when Mrs Urquhart, always maternally solicitous for her poor Sally's girls, wrote to beg them to spend Christmas at Five Creeks, Deb and Frances, who did not, for different reasons, wish to go themselves, agreed that it would be 'the very thing' for Rose to do so.
continually
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that she could no longer entertain, Deb refused to be entertained, much to the discontent of Frances, who pined continually for a larger and brighter life, so that the invitations fell off to nothing before the excuse of the deep mourning was worn out.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Now that she could no longer entertain, Deb refused to be entertained, much to the discontent of Frances, who pined continually for a larger and brighter life, so that the invitations fell off to nothing before the excuse of the deep mourning was worn out.
Creeks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when Mrs Urquhart, always maternally solicitous for her poor Sally's girls, wrote to beg them to spend Christmas at Five Creeks, Deb and Frances, who did not, for different reasons, wish to go themselves, agreed that it would be 'the very thing' for Rose to do so.
Deb
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that she could no longer entertain, Deb refused to be entertained, much to the discontent of Frances, who pined continually for a larger and brighter life, so that the invitations fell off to nothing before the excuse of the deep mourning was worn out.
deep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that she could no longer entertain, Deb refused to be entertained, much to the discontent of Frances, who pined continually for a larger and brighter life, so that the invitations fell off to nothing before the excuse of the deep mourning was worn out.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading But when Mrs Urquhart, always maternally solicitous for her poor Sally's girls, wrote to beg them to spend Christmas at Five Creeks, Deb and Frances, who did not, for different reasons, wish to go themselves, agreed that it would be 'the very thing' for Rose to do so.
differentnounUS /ˈdifferent/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading But when Mrs Urquhart, always maternally solicitous for her poor Sally's girls, wrote to beg them to spend Christmas at Five Creeks, Deb and Frances, who did not, for different reasons, wish to go themselves, agreed that it would be 'the very thing' for Rose to do so.
discontent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that she could no longer entertain, Deb refused to be entertained, much to the discontent of Frances, who pined continually for a larger and brighter life, so that the invitations fell off to nothing before the excuse of the deep mourning was worn out.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading But when Mrs Urquhart, always maternally solicitous for her poor Sally's girls, wrote to beg them to spend Christmas at Five Creeks, Deb and Frances, who did not, for different reasons, wish to go themselves, agreed that it would be 'the very thing' for Rose to do so.
entertain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that she could no longer entertain, Deb refused to be entertained, much to the discontent of Frances, who pined continually for a larger and brighter life, so that the invitations fell off to nothing before the excuse of the deep mourning was worn out.
entertained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that she could no longer entertain, Deb refused to be entertained, much to the discontent of Frances, who pined continually for a larger and brighter life, so that the invitations fell off to nothing before the excuse of the deep mourning was worn out.
excuse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that she could no longer entertain, Deb refused to be entertained, much to the discontent of Frances, who pined continually for a larger and brighter life, so that the invitations fell off to nothing before the excuse of the deep mourning was worn out.
fell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that she could no longer entertain, Deb refused to be entertained, much to the discontent of Frances, who pined continually for a larger and brighter life, so that the invitations fell off to nothing before the excuse of the deep mourning was worn out.
Five
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when Mrs Urquhart, always maternally solicitous for her poor Sally's girls, wrote to beg them to spend Christmas at Five Creeks, Deb and Frances, who did not, for different reasons, wish to go themselves, agreed that it would be 'the very thing' for Rose to do so.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Now that she could no longer entertain, Deb refused to be entertained, much to the discontent of Frances, who pined continually for a larger and brighter life, so that the invitations fell off to nothing before the excuse of the deep mourning was worn out.
Frances
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that she could no longer entertain, Deb refused to be entertained, much to the discontent of Frances, who pined continually for a larger and brighter life, so that the invitations fell off to nothing before the excuse of the deep mourning was worn out.
girls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when Mrs Urquhart, always maternally solicitous for her poor Sally's girls, wrote to beg them to spend Christmas at Five Creeks, Deb and Frances, who did not, for different reasons, wish to go themselves, agreed that it would be 'the very thing' for Rose to do so.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when Mrs Urquhart, always maternally solicitous for her poor Sally's girls, wrote to beg them to spend Christmas at Five Creeks, Deb and Frances, who did not, for different reasons, wish to go themselves, agreed that it would be 'the very thing' for Rose to do so.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading She would be absolutely safe up there, and with her old social world about her, and old interests to occupy her mind, would recover that respect for herself which seemed to have been more or less impaired by association with suburban villadom.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But when Mrs Urquhart, always maternally solicitous for her poor Sally's girls, wrote to beg them to spend Christmas at Five Creeks, Deb and Frances, who did not, for different reasons, wish to go themselves, agreed that it would be 'the very thing' for Rose to do so.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She would be absolutely safe up there, and with her old social world about her, and old interests to occupy her mind, would recover that respect for herself which seemed to have been more or less impaired by association with suburban villadom.
hoped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They hoped she would stay at Five Creeks a long, long time.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "And if only Jim would keep her altogether!" sighed Frances.
impaired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would be absolutely safe up there, and with her old social world about her, and old interests to occupy her mind, would recover that respect for herself which seemed to have been more or less impaired by association with suburban villadom.
interests
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would be absolutely safe up there, and with her old social world about her, and old interests to occupy her mind, would recover that respect for herself which seemed to have been more or less impaired by association with suburban villadom.
invitations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that she could no longer entertain, Deb refused to be entertained, much to the discontent of Frances, who pined continually for a larger and brighter life, so that the invitations fell off to nothing before the excuse of the deep mourning was worn out.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But when Mrs Urquhart, always maternally solicitous for her poor Sally's girls, wrote to beg them to spend Christmas at Five Creeks, Deb and Frances, who did not, for different reasons, wish to go themselves, agreed that it would be 'the very thing' for Rose to do so.
Jim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And if only Jim would keep her altogether!" sighed Frances.
keep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And if only Jim would keep her altogether!" sighed Frances.
larger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that she could no longer entertain, Deb refused to be entertained, much to the discontent of Frances, who pined continually for a larger and brighter life, so that the invitations fell off to nothing before the excuse of the deep mourning was worn out.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would be absolutely safe up there, and with her old social world about her, and old interests to occupy her mind, would recover that respect for herself which seemed to have been more or less impaired by association with suburban villadom.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Now that she could no longer entertain, Deb refused to be entertained, much to the discontent of Frances, who pined continually for a larger and brighter life, so that the invitations fell off to nothing before the excuse of the deep mourning was worn out.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They hoped she would stay at Five Creeks a long, long time.
longer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that she could no longer entertain, Deb refused to be entertained, much to the discontent of Frances, who pined continually for a larger and brighter life, so that the invitations fell off to nothing before the excuse of the deep mourning was worn out.
maternally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when Mrs Urquhart, always maternally solicitous for her poor Sally's girls, wrote to beg them to spend Christmas at Five Creeks, Deb and Frances, who did not, for different reasons, wish to go themselves, agreed that it would be 'the very thing' for Rose to do so.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She would be absolutely safe up there, and with her old social world about her, and old interests to occupy her mind, would recover that respect for herself which seemed to have been more or less impaired by association with suburban villadom.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would be absolutely safe up there, and with her old social world about her, and old interests to occupy her mind, would recover that respect for herself which seemed to have been more or less impaired by association with suburban villadom.
mourning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that she could no longer entertain, Deb refused to be entertained, much to the discontent of Frances, who pined continually for a larger and brighter life, so that the invitations fell off to nothing before the excuse of the deep mourning was worn out.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when Mrs Urquhart, always maternally solicitous for her poor Sally's girls, wrote to beg them to spend Christmas at Five Creeks, Deb and Frances, who did not, for different reasons, wish to go themselves, agreed that it would be 'the very thing' for Rose to do so.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that she could no longer entertain, Deb refused to be entertained, much to the discontent of Frances, who pined continually for a larger and brighter life, so that the invitations fell off to nothing before the excuse of the deep mourning was worn out.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Now that she could no longer entertain, Deb refused to be entertained, much to the discontent of Frances, who pined continually for a larger and brighter life, so that the invitations fell off to nothing before the excuse of the deep mourning was worn out.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But when Mrs Urquhart, always maternally solicitous for her poor Sally's girls, wrote to beg them to spend Christmas at Five Creeks, Deb and Frances, who did not, for different reasons, wish to go themselves, agreed that it would be 'the very thing' for Rose to do so.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Now that she could no longer entertain, Deb refused to be entertained, much to the discontent of Frances, who pined continually for a larger and brighter life, so that the invitations fell off to nothing before the excuse of the deep mourning was worn out.
Now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that she could no longer entertain, Deb refused to be entertained, much to the discontent of Frances, who pined continually for a larger and brighter life, so that the invitations fell off to nothing before the excuse of the deep mourning was worn out.
occupy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would be absolutely safe up there, and with her old social world about her, and old interests to occupy her mind, would recover that respect for herself which seemed to have been more or less impaired by association with suburban villadom.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Now that she could no longer entertain, Deb refused to be entertained, much to the discontent of Frances, who pined continually for a larger and brighter life, so that the invitations fell off to nothing before the excuse of the deep mourning was worn out.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that she could no longer entertain, Deb refused to be entertained, much to the discontent of Frances, who pined continually for a larger and brighter life, so that the invitations fell off to nothing before the excuse of the deep mourning was worn out.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would be absolutely safe up there, and with her old social world about her, and old interests to occupy her mind, would recover that respect for herself which seemed to have been more or less impaired by association with suburban villadom.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And if only Jim would keep her altogether!" sighed Frances.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading She would be absolutely safe up there, and with her old social world about her, and old interests to occupy her mind, would recover that respect for herself which seemed to have been more or less impaired by association with suburban villadom.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that she could no longer entertain, Deb refused to be entertained, much to the discontent of Frances, who pined continually for a larger and brighter life, so that the invitations fell off to nothing before the excuse of the deep mourning was worn out.
pined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that she could no longer entertain, Deb refused to be entertained, much to the discontent of Frances, who pined continually for a larger and brighter life, so that the invitations fell off to nothing before the excuse of the deep mourning was worn out.
poornounUS /poor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But when Mrs Urquhart, always maternally solicitous for her poor Sally's girls, wrote to beg them to spend Christmas at Five Creeks, Deb and Frances, who did not, for different reasons, wish to go themselves, agreed that it would be 'the very thing' for Rose to do so.
reasonsnounUS /ˈreasons/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading But when Mrs Urquhart, always maternally solicitous for her poor Sally's girls, wrote to beg them to spend Christmas at Five Creeks, Deb and Frances, who did not, for different reasons, wish to go themselves, agreed that it would be 'the very thing' for Rose to do so.
recover
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would be absolutely safe up there, and with her old social world about her, and old interests to occupy her mind, would recover that respect for herself which seemed to have been more or less impaired by association with suburban villadom.
refused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that she could no longer entertain, Deb refused to be entertained, much to the discontent of Frances, who pined continually for a larger and brighter life, so that the invitations fell off to nothing before the excuse of the deep mourning was worn out.
respect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would be absolutely safe up there, and with her old social world about her, and old interests to occupy her mind, would recover that respect for herself which seemed to have been more or less impaired by association with suburban villadom.
Rose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when Mrs Urquhart, always maternally solicitous for her poor Sally's girls, wrote to beg them to spend Christmas at Five Creeks, Deb and Frances, who did not, for different reasons, wish to go themselves, agreed that it would be 'the very thing' for Rose to do so.
safe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would be absolutely safe up there, and with her old social world about her, and old interests to occupy her mind, would recover that respect for herself which seemed to have been more or less impaired by association with suburban villadom.
Sally's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when Mrs Urquhart, always maternally solicitous for her poor Sally's girls, wrote to beg them to spend Christmas at Five Creeks, Deb and Frances, who did not, for different reasons, wish to go themselves, agreed that it would be 'the very thing' for Rose to do so.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She would be absolutely safe up there, and with her old social world about her, and old interests to occupy her mind, would recover that respect for herself which seemed to have been more or less impaired by association with suburban villadom.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Now that she could no longer entertain, Deb refused to be entertained, much to the discontent of Frances, who pined continually for a larger and brighter life, so that the invitations fell off to nothing before the excuse of the deep mourning was worn out.
sighed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And if only Jim would keep her altogether!" sighed Frances.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Now that she could no longer entertain, Deb refused to be entertained, much to the discontent of Frances, who pined continually for a larger and brighter life, so that the invitations fell off to nothing before the excuse of the deep mourning was worn out.
social
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would be absolutely safe up there, and with her old social world about her, and old interests to occupy her mind, would recover that respect for herself which seemed to have been more or less impaired by association with suburban villadom.
solicitous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when Mrs Urquhart, always maternally solicitous for her poor Sally's girls, wrote to beg them to spend Christmas at Five Creeks, Deb and Frances, who did not, for different reasons, wish to go themselves, agreed that it would be 'the very thing' for Rose to do so.
spend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when Mrs Urquhart, always maternally solicitous for her poor Sally's girls, wrote to beg them to spend Christmas at Five Creeks, Deb and Frances, who did not, for different reasons, wish to go themselves, agreed that it would be 'the very thing' for Rose to do so.
stay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They hoped she would stay at Five Creeks a long, long time.
suburban
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would be absolutely safe up there, and with her old social world about her, and old interests to occupy her mind, would recover that respect for herself which seemed to have been more or less impaired by association with suburban villadom.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Now that she could no longer entertain, Deb refused to be entertained, much to the discontent of Frances, who pined continually for a larger and brighter life, so that the invitations fell off to nothing before the excuse of the deep mourning was worn out.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Now that she could no longer entertain, Deb refused to be entertained, much to the discontent of Frances, who pined continually for a larger and brighter life, so that the invitations fell off to nothing before the excuse of the deep mourning was worn out.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But when Mrs Urquhart, always maternally solicitous for her poor Sally's girls, wrote to beg them to spend Christmas at Five Creeks, Deb and Frances, who did not, for different reasons, wish to go themselves, agreed that it would be 'the very thing' for Rose to do so.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading But when Mrs Urquhart, always maternally solicitous for her poor Sally's girls, wrote to beg them to spend Christmas at Five Creeks, Deb and Frances, who did not, for different reasons, wish to go themselves, agreed that it would be 'the very thing' for Rose to do so.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would be absolutely safe up there, and with her old social world about her, and old interests to occupy her mind, would recover that respect for herself which seemed to have been more or less impaired by association with suburban villadom.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They hoped she would stay at Five Creeks a long, long time.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But when Mrs Urquhart, always maternally solicitous for her poor Sally's girls, wrote to beg them to spend Christmas at Five Creeks, Deb and Frances, who did not, for different reasons, wish to go themselves, agreed that it would be 'the very thing' for Rose to do so.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They hoped she would stay at Five Creeks a long, long time.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Now that she could no longer entertain, Deb refused to be entertained, much to the discontent of Frances, who pined continually for a larger and brighter life, so that the invitations fell off to nothing before the excuse of the deep mourning was worn out.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would be absolutely safe up there, and with her old social world about her, and old interests to occupy her mind, would recover that respect for herself which seemed to have been more or less impaired by association with suburban villadom.
Urquhart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when Mrs Urquhart, always maternally solicitous for her poor Sally's girls, wrote to beg them to spend Christmas at Five Creeks, Deb and Frances, who did not, for different reasons, wish to go themselves, agreed that it would be 'the very thing' for Rose to do so.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when Mrs Urquhart, always maternally solicitous for her poor Sally's girls, wrote to beg them to spend Christmas at Five Creeks, Deb and Frances, who did not, for different reasons, wish to go themselves, agreed that it would be 'the very thing' for Rose to do so.
villadom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would be absolutely safe up there, and with her old social world about her, and old interests to occupy her mind, would recover that respect for herself which seemed to have been more or less impaired by association with suburban villadom.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Now that she could no longer entertain, Deb refused to be entertained, much to the discontent of Frances, who pined continually for a larger and brighter life, so that the invitations fell off to nothing before the excuse of the deep mourning was worn out.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading But when Mrs Urquhart, always maternally solicitous for her poor Sally's girls, wrote to beg them to spend Christmas at Five Creeks, Deb and Frances, who did not, for different reasons, wish to go themselves, agreed that it would be 'the very thing' for Rose to do so.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She would be absolutely safe up there, and with her old social world about her, and old interests to occupy her mind, would recover that respect for herself which seemed to have been more or less impaired by association with suburban villadom.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Now that she could no longer entertain, Deb refused to be entertained, much to the discontent of Frances, who pined continually for a larger and brighter life, so that the invitations fell off to nothing before the excuse of the deep mourning was worn out.
wish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when Mrs Urquhart, always maternally solicitous for her poor Sally's girls, wrote to beg them to spend Christmas at Five Creeks, Deb and Frances, who did not, for different reasons, wish to go themselves, agreed that it would be 'the very thing' for Rose to do so.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading She would be absolutely safe up there, and with her old social world about her, and old interests to occupy her mind, would recover that respect for herself which seemed to have been more or less impaired by association with suburban villadom.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She would be absolutely safe up there, and with her old social world about her, and old interests to occupy her mind, would recover that respect for herself which seemed to have been more or less impaired by association with suburban villadom.
wornverbUS /wɔːrn/
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading Now that she could no longer entertain, Deb refused to be entertained, much to the discontent of Frances, who pined continually for a larger and brighter life, so that the invitations fell off to nothing before the excuse of the deep mourning was worn out.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But when Mrs Urquhart, always maternally solicitous for her poor Sally's girls, wrote to beg them to spend Christmas at Five Creeks, Deb and Frances, who did not, for different reasons, wish to go themselves, agreed that it would be 'the very thing' for Rose to do so.
wrote
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But when Mrs Urquhart, always maternally solicitous for her poor Sally's girls, wrote to beg them to spend Christmas at Five Creeks, Deb and Frances, who did not, for different reasons, wish to go themselves, agreed that it would be 'the very thing' for Rose to do so.