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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 Philippa and Helen met in the drawing-room, a few minutes before eight that evening.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Philippa and Helen met in the drawing-room, a few minutes before eight that evening.
any
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From this reading Philippa was wearing a new black dress, a model of simplicity to the untutored eye, but full of that undefinable appeal to the mysterious which even the greatest artist frequently fails to create out of any form of colour.
appeal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Philippa was wearing a new black dress, a model of simplicity to the untutored eye, but full of that undefinable appeal to the mysterious which even the greatest artist frequently fails to create out of any form of colour.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Some fancy had induced her to strip off her jewels at the last moment, and she wore no ornaments save a band of black velvet around her neck.
artist
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From this reading Philippa was wearing a new black dress, a model of simplicity to the untutored eye, but full of that undefinable appeal to the mysterious which even the greatest artist frequently fails to create out of any form of colour.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “Is this a fresh scheme for conquest, Philippa?” she asked, as they stood together by the log fire.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Is this a fresh scheme for conquest, Philippa?” she asked, as they stood together by the log fire.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Some fancy had induced her to strip off her jewels at the last moment, and she wore no ornaments save a band of black velvet around her neck.
band
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some fancy had induced her to strip off her jewels at the last moment, and she wore no ornaments save a band of black velvet around her neck.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Philippa and Helen met in the drawing-room, a few minutes before eight that evening.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Philippa was wearing a new black dress, a model of simplicity to the untutored eye, but full of that undefinable appeal to the mysterious which even the greatest artist frequently fails to create out of any form of colour.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Philippa was wearing a new black dress, a model of simplicity to the untutored eye, but full of that undefinable appeal to the mysterious which even the greatest artist frequently fails to create out of any form of colour.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading “Is this a fresh scheme for conquest, Philippa?” she asked, as they stood together by the log fire.
colour
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From this reading Philippa was wearing a new black dress, a model of simplicity to the untutored eye, but full of that undefinable appeal to the mysterious which even the greatest artist frequently fails to create out of any form of colour.
conquest
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From this reading “Is this a fresh scheme for conquest, Philippa?” she asked, as they stood together by the log fire.
create
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From this reading Philippa was wearing a new black dress, a model of simplicity to the untutored eye, but full of that undefinable appeal to the mysterious which even the greatest artist frequently fails to create out of any form of colour.
curiously
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From this reading Helen looked at her curiously.
drawing-room
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From this reading Philippa and Helen met in the drawing-room, a few minutes before eight that evening.
dress
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From this reading Philippa was wearing a new black dress, a model of simplicity to the untutored eye, but full of that undefinable appeal to the mysterious which even the greatest artist frequently fails to create out of any form of colour.
eight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Philippa and Helen met in the drawing-room, a few minutes before eight that evening.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Philippa was wearing a new black dress, a model of simplicity to the untutored eye, but full of that undefinable appeal to the mysterious which even the greatest artist frequently fails to create out of any form of colour.
evening
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From this reading Philippa and Helen met in the drawing-room, a few minutes before eight that evening.
eye
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From this reading Philippa was wearing a new black dress, a model of simplicity to the untutored eye, but full of that undefinable appeal to the mysterious which even the greatest artist frequently fails to create out of any form of colour.
fails
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From this reading Philippa was wearing a new black dress, a model of simplicity to the untutored eye, but full of that undefinable appeal to the mysterious which even the greatest artist frequently fails to create out of any form of colour.
fancy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some fancy had induced her to strip off her jewels at the last moment, and she wore no ornaments save a band of black velvet around her neck.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Philippa and Helen met in the drawing-room, a few minutes before eight that evening.
fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Is this a fresh scheme for conquest, Philippa?” she asked, as they stood together by the log fire.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “Is this a fresh scheme for conquest, Philippa?” she asked, as they stood together by the log fire.
form
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Philippa was wearing a new black dress, a model of simplicity to the untutored eye, but full of that undefinable appeal to the mysterious which even the greatest artist frequently fails to create out of any form of colour.
frequently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Philippa was wearing a new black dress, a model of simplicity to the untutored eye, but full of that undefinable appeal to the mysterious which even the greatest artist frequently fails to create out of any form of colour.
fresh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Is this a fresh scheme for conquest, Philippa?” she asked, as they stood together by the log fire.
full
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From this reading Philippa was wearing a new black dress, a model of simplicity to the untutored eye, but full of that undefinable appeal to the mysterious which even the greatest artist frequently fails to create out of any form of colour.
greatest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Philippa was wearing a new black dress, a model of simplicity to the untutored eye, but full of that undefinable appeal to the mysterious which even the greatest artist frequently fails to create out of any form of colour.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Some fancy had induced her to strip off her jewels at the last moment, and she wore no ornaments save a band of black velvet around her neck.
Helen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Philippa and Helen met in the drawing-room, a few minutes before eight that evening.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Some fancy had induced her to strip off her jewels at the last moment, and she wore no ornaments save a band of black velvet around her neck.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Philippa and Helen met in the drawing-room, a few minutes before eight that evening.
induced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some fancy had induced her to strip off her jewels at the last moment, and she wore no ornaments save a band of black velvet around her neck.
Isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Is this a fresh scheme for conquest, Philippa?” she asked, as they stood together by the log fire.
jewels
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some fancy had induced her to strip off her jewels at the last moment, and she wore no ornaments save a band of black velvet around her neck.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Some fancy had induced her to strip off her jewels at the last moment, and she wore no ornaments save a band of black velvet around her neck.
log
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Is this a fresh scheme for conquest, Philippa?” she asked, as they stood together by the log fire.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Helen looked at her curiously.
met
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Philippa and Helen met in the drawing-room, a few minutes before eight that evening.
minutes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Philippa and Helen met in the drawing-room, a few minutes before eight that evening.
model
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Philippa was wearing a new black dress, a model of simplicity to the untutored eye, but full of that undefinable appeal to the mysterious which even the greatest artist frequently fails to create out of any form of colour.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some fancy had induced her to strip off her jewels at the last moment, and she wore no ornaments save a band of black velvet around her neck.
mysteriousadjectiveUS /mɪˈstɪriəs/
difficult to explain or understand
From this reading Philippa was wearing a new black dress, a model of simplicity to the untutored eye, but full of that undefinable appeal to the mysterious which even the greatest artist frequently fails to create out of any form of colour.
neck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some fancy had induced her to strip off her jewels at the last moment, and she wore no ornaments save a band of black velvet around her neck.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Philippa was wearing a new black dress, a model of simplicity to the untutored eye, but full of that undefinable appeal to the mysterious which even the greatest artist frequently fails to create out of any form of colour.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Some fancy had induced her to strip off her jewels at the last moment, and she wore no ornaments save a band of black velvet around her neck.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Philippa was wearing a new black dress, a model of simplicity to the untutored eye, but full of that undefinable appeal to the mysterious which even the greatest artist frequently fails to create out of any form of colour.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some fancy had induced her to strip off her jewels at the last moment, and she wore no ornaments save a band of black velvet around her neck.
ornaments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some fancy had induced her to strip off her jewels at the last moment, and she wore no ornaments save a band of black velvet around her neck.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Philippa was wearing a new black dress, a model of simplicity to the untutored eye, but full of that undefinable appeal to the mysterious which even the greatest artist frequently fails to create out of any form of colour.
Philippa
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Philippa and Helen met in the drawing-room, a few minutes before eight that evening.
saveprepositionUS /seɪv/
except for; apart from
From this reading Some fancy had induced her to strip off her jewels at the last moment, and she wore no ornaments save a band of black velvet around her neck.
scheme
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Is this a fresh scheme for conquest, Philippa?” she asked, as they stood together by the log fire.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Some fancy had induced her to strip off her jewels at the last moment, and she wore no ornaments save a band of black velvet around her neck.
simplicity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Philippa was wearing a new black dress, a model of simplicity to the untutored eye, but full of that undefinable appeal to the mysterious which even the greatest artist frequently fails to create out of any form of colour.
Some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some fancy had induced her to strip off her jewels at the last moment, and she wore no ornaments save a band of black velvet around her neck.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Is this a fresh scheme for conquest, Philippa?” she asked, as they stood together by the log fire.
strip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some fancy had induced her to strip off her jewels at the last moment, and she wore no ornaments save a band of black velvet around her neck.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Philippa and Helen met in the drawing-room, a few minutes before eight that evening.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Philippa and Helen met in the drawing-room, a few minutes before eight that evening.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Is this a fresh scheme for conquest, Philippa?” she asked, as they stood together by the log fire.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “Is this a fresh scheme for conquest, Philippa?” she asked, as they stood together by the log fire.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Philippa was wearing a new black dress, a model of simplicity to the untutored eye, but full of that undefinable appeal to the mysterious which even the greatest artist frequently fails to create out of any form of colour.
together
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Is this a fresh scheme for conquest, Philippa?” she asked, as they stood together by the log fire.
undefinable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Philippa was wearing a new black dress, a model of simplicity to the untutored eye, but full of that undefinable appeal to the mysterious which even the greatest artist frequently fails to create out of any form of colour.
untutored
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Philippa was wearing a new black dress, a model of simplicity to the untutored eye, but full of that undefinable appeal to the mysterious which even the greatest artist frequently fails to create out of any form of colour.
velvet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some fancy had induced her to strip off her jewels at the last moment, and she wore no ornaments save a band of black velvet around her neck.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Philippa was wearing a new black dress, a model of simplicity to the untutored eye, but full of that undefinable appeal to the mysterious which even the greatest artist frequently fails to create out of any form of colour.
wearing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Philippa was wearing a new black dress, a model of simplicity to the untutored eye, but full of that undefinable appeal to the mysterious which even the greatest artist frequently fails to create out of any form of colour.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Philippa was wearing a new black dress, a model of simplicity to the untutored eye, but full of that undefinable appeal to the mysterious which even the greatest artist frequently fails to create out of any form of colour.
wore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Some fancy had induced her to strip off her jewels at the last moment, and she wore no ornaments save a band of black velvet around her neck.
