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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 Modest, demure, the girl trips forward as though she were dancing a quadrille.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
anxious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How anxious their mother is during the ceremony of introduction!
approved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Modest, demure, the girl trips forward as though she were dancing a quadrille.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
awaiting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the garden, just beyond the threshold, stand two smaller sisters, shyly awaiting their turn.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading In the garden, just beyond the threshold, stand two smaller sisters, shyly awaiting their turn.
breath
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
call
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
ceremony
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How anxious their mother is during the ceremony of introduction!
coryphe'es
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From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
dancing
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From this reading Modest, demure, the girl trips forward as though she were dancing a quadrille.
demure
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From this reading Modest, demure, the girl trips forward as though she were dancing a quadrille.
desire
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From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
drilling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
excitement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
fancy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
forwardnounUS /forward/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Modest, demure, the girl trips forward as though she were dancing a quadrille.
garden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the garden, just beyond the threshold, stand two smaller sisters, shyly awaiting their turn.
girl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Modest, demure, the girl trips forward as though she were dancing a quadrille.
grown-up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
honour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How anxious their mother is during the ceremony of introduction!
hurried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the garden, just beyond the threshold, stand two smaller sisters, shyly awaiting their turn.
infant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
introduction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How anxious their mother is during the ceremony of introduction!
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the garden, just beyond the threshold, stand two smaller sisters, shyly awaiting their turn.
ma
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
ma'am
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
Modest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Modest, demure, the girl trips forward as though she were dancing a quadrille.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How anxious their mother is during the ceremony of introduction!
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
overborne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
quadrille
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Modest, demure, the girl trips forward as though she were dancing a quadrille.
rehearsing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Modest, demure, the girl trips forward as though she were dancing a quadrille.
shyly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the garden, just beyond the threshold, stand two smaller sisters, shyly awaiting their turn.
sister
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
sisters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the garden, just beyond the threshold, stand two smaller sisters, shyly awaiting their turn.
smaller
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the garden, just beyond the threshold, stand two smaller sisters, shyly awaiting their turn.
stage-fright
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
stand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the garden, just beyond the threshold, stand two smaller sisters, shyly awaiting their turn.
suddennounUS /sudden/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
Sunday-best
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
thank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Modest, demure, the girl trips forward as though she were dancing a quadrille.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading In the garden, just beyond the threshold, stand two smaller sisters, shyly awaiting their turn.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Modest, demure, the girl trips forward as though she were dancing a quadrille.
threshold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the garden, just beyond the threshold, stand two smaller sisters, shyly awaiting their turn.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
tiptoe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
toilet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
trips
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Modest, demure, the girl trips forward as though she were dancing a quadrille.
turn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the garden, just beyond the threshold, stand two smaller sisters, shyly awaiting their turn.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the garden, just beyond the threshold, stand two smaller sisters, shyly awaiting their turn.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Modest, demure, the girl trips forward as though she were dancing a quadrille.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
wings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They, too, are in their Sunday-best, and on the tiptoe of excitement--infant coryphe'es, in whom, as they stand at the wings, stage-fright is overborne by the desire to be seen and approved.
Yes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I fancy they are rehearsing under their breath the 'Yes, ma' am,' and the 'No, ma'am,' and the 'I thank you, ma'am, very much,' which their grown-up sister has been drilling into them during the hurried toilet they have just been put through in honour of this sudden call.
