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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 Behind the straight purple backs and smooth purple legs on the box before them, Madam Weatherstone and Mrs. Weatherstone rolled home silently, a silence of thunderous portent.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Behind the straight purple backs and smooth purple legs on the box before them, Madam Weatherstone and Mrs. Weatherstone rolled home silently, a silence of thunderous portent.
AnothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Another purple person opened the door for them, and when Madam Weatherstone said, “We will have tea on the terrace,” it was brought them by a fourth.
astonishedadjectiveUS /əˈstɑːnɪʃt/
very surprised
From this reading “I was astonished at your attitude, Viva,” began the old lady, at length.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “I was astonished at your attitude, Viva,” began the old lady, at length.
attitude
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I was astonished at your attitude, Viva,” began the old lady, at length.
backs
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From this reading Behind the straight purple backs and smooth purple legs on the box before them, Madam Weatherstone and Mrs. Weatherstone rolled home silently, a silence of thunderous portent.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Behind the straight purple backs and smooth purple legs on the box before them, Madam Weatherstone and Mrs. Weatherstone rolled home silently, a silence of thunderous portent.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I was astonished at your attitude, Viva,” began the old lady, at length.
BehindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Behind the straight purple backs and smooth purple legs on the box before them, Madam Weatherstone and Mrs. Weatherstone rolled home silently, a silence of thunderous portent.
box
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind the straight purple backs and smooth purple legs on the box before them, Madam Weatherstone and Mrs. Weatherstone rolled home silently, a silence of thunderous portent.
broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Another purple person opened the door for them, and when Madam Weatherstone said, “We will have tea on the terrace,” it was brought them by a fourth.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “Of course it was Mrs. Dankshire's fault in the first place, but to encourage that,--outrageous person!
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Another purple person opened the door for them, and when Madam Weatherstone said, “We will have tea on the terrace,” it was brought them by a fourth.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading How could you do it!”
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Of course it was Mrs. Dankshire's fault in the first place, but to encourage that,--outrageous person!
Dankshire's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Of course it was Mrs. Dankshire's fault in the first place, but to encourage that,--outrageous person!
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading How could you do it!”
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Another purple person opened the door for them, and when Madam Weatherstone said, “We will have tea on the terrace,” it was brought them by a fourth.
encourage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Of course it was Mrs. Dankshire's fault in the first place, but to encourage that,--outrageous person!
fault
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Of course it was Mrs. Dankshire's fault in the first place, but to encourage that,--outrageous person!
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Of course it was Mrs. Dankshire's fault in the first place, but to encourage that,--outrageous person!
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Another purple person opened the door for them, and when Madam Weatherstone said, “We will have tea on the terrace,” it was brought them by a fourth.
fourthnounUS /fourth/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Another purple person opened the door for them, and when Madam Weatherstone said, “We will have tea on the terrace,” it was brought them by a fourth.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Another purple person opened the door for them, and when Madam Weatherstone said, “We will have tea on the terrace,” it was brought them by a fourth.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind the straight purple backs and smooth purple legs on the box before them, Madam Weatherstone and Mrs. Weatherstone rolled home silently, a silence of thunderous portent.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How could you do it!”
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I was astonished at your attitude, Viva,” began the old lady, at length.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Of course it was Mrs. Dankshire's fault in the first place, but to encourage that,--outrageous person!
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Another purple person opened the door for them, and when Madam Weatherstone said, “We will have tea on the terrace,” it was brought them by a fourth.
lady
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I was astonished at your attitude, Viva,” began the old lady, at length.
legs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind the straight purple backs and smooth purple legs on the box before them, Madam Weatherstone and Mrs. Weatherstone rolled home silently, a silence of thunderous portent.
lengthnounUS /leŋθ/
a period of time or extent
From this reading “I was astonished at your attitude, Viva,” began the old lady, at length.
Madam
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind the straight purple backs and smooth purple legs on the box before them, Madam Weatherstone and Mrs. Weatherstone rolled home silently, a silence of thunderous portent.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind the straight purple backs and smooth purple legs on the box before them, Madam Weatherstone and Mrs. Weatherstone rolled home silently, a silence of thunderous portent.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Behind the straight purple backs and smooth purple legs on the box before them, Madam Weatherstone and Mrs. Weatherstone rolled home silently, a silence of thunderous portent.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I was astonished at your attitude, Viva,” began the old lady, at length.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Behind the straight purple backs and smooth purple legs on the box before them, Madam Weatherstone and Mrs. Weatherstone rolled home silently, a silence of thunderous portent.
opened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Another purple person opened the door for them, and when Madam Weatherstone said, “We will have tea on the terrace,” it was brought them by a fourth.
outrageous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Of course it was Mrs. Dankshire's fault in the first place, but to encourage that,--outrageous person!
person
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Another purple person opened the door for them, and when Madam Weatherstone said, “We will have tea on the terrace,” it was brought them by a fourth.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Of course it was Mrs. Dankshire's fault in the first place, but to encourage that,--outrageous person!
portent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind the straight purple backs and smooth purple legs on the box before them, Madam Weatherstone and Mrs. Weatherstone rolled home silently, a silence of thunderous portent.
purple
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind the straight purple backs and smooth purple legs on the box before them, Madam Weatherstone and Mrs. Weatherstone rolled home silently, a silence of thunderous portent.
rolled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind the straight purple backs and smooth purple legs on the box before them, Madam Weatherstone and Mrs. Weatherstone rolled home silently, a silence of thunderous portent.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Another purple person opened the door for them, and when Madam Weatherstone said, “We will have tea on the terrace,” it was brought them by a fourth.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Behind the straight purple backs and smooth purple legs on the box before them, Madam Weatherstone and Mrs. Weatherstone rolled home silently, a silence of thunderous portent.
silently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind the straight purple backs and smooth purple legs on the box before them, Madam Weatherstone and Mrs. Weatherstone rolled home silently, a silence of thunderous portent.
smooth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind the straight purple backs and smooth purple legs on the box before them, Madam Weatherstone and Mrs. Weatherstone rolled home silently, a silence of thunderous portent.
straight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind the straight purple backs and smooth purple legs on the box before them, Madam Weatherstone and Mrs. Weatherstone rolled home silently, a silence of thunderous portent.
tea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Another purple person opened the door for them, and when Madam Weatherstone said, “We will have tea on the terrace,” it was brought them by a fourth.
terrace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Another purple person opened the door for them, and when Madam Weatherstone said, “We will have tea on the terrace,” it was brought them by a fourth.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Of course it was Mrs. Dankshire's fault in the first place, but to encourage that,--outrageous person!
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Behind the straight purple backs and smooth purple legs on the box before them, Madam Weatherstone and Mrs. Weatherstone rolled home silently, a silence of thunderous portent.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Behind the straight purple backs and smooth purple legs on the box before them, Madam Weatherstone and Mrs. Weatherstone rolled home silently, a silence of thunderous portent.
thunderous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind the straight purple backs and smooth purple legs on the box before them, Madam Weatherstone and Mrs. Weatherstone rolled home silently, a silence of thunderous portent.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Of course it was Mrs. Dankshire's fault in the first place, but to encourage that,--outrageous person!
Viva
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I was astonished at your attitude, Viva,” began the old lady, at length.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Another purple person opened the door for them, and when Madam Weatherstone said, “We will have tea on the terrace,” it was brought them by a fourth.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Another purple person opened the door for them, and when Madam Weatherstone said, “We will have tea on the terrace,” it was brought them by a fourth.
Weatherstone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Behind the straight purple backs and smooth purple legs on the box before them, Madam Weatherstone and Mrs. Weatherstone rolled home silently, a silence of thunderous portent.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Another purple person opened the door for them, and when Madam Weatherstone said, “We will have tea on the terrace,” it was brought them by a fourth.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Another purple person opened the door for them, and when Madam Weatherstone said, “We will have tea on the terrace,” it was brought them by a fourth.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading How could you do it!”
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I was astonished at your attitude, Viva,” began the old lady, at length.