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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 AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The man who had been waiting for her would ask her to come into his arms, the consummation of her girlish dreams was about to be realised.
AFTERprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
all
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From this reading On what happened during the next few days--perhaps, during the next few hours--would depend in all probability the happiness, or the misery, of all the years that would follow.
arms
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From this reading The man who had been waiting for her would ask her to come into his arms, the consummation of her girlish dreams was about to be realised.
ask
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From this reading The man who had been waiting for her would ask her to come into his arms, the consummation of her girlish dreams was about to be realised.
back
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From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
balancenounUS /ˈbalance/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading She knew that this Christmas Eve was to be a fateful time for her, her whole future seemed to be hanging in the balance.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She knew that this Christmas Eve was to be a fateful time for her, her whole future seemed to be hanging in the balance.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The point to which her life had been steadily drifting would be reached to-night.
Christmas
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From this reading She knew that this Christmas Eve was to be a fateful time for her, her whole future seemed to be hanging in the balance.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The man who had been waiting for her would ask her to come into his arms, the consummation of her girlish dreams was about to be realised.
consummation
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From this reading The man who had been waiting for her would ask her to come into his arms, the consummation of her girlish dreams was about to be realised.
days
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From this reading On what happened during the next few days--perhaps, during the next few hours--would depend in all probability the happiness, or the misery, of all the years that would follow.
depend
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From this reading On what happened during the next few days--perhaps, during the next few hours--would depend in all probability the happiness, or the misery, of all the years that would follow.
dreams
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From this reading The man who had been waiting for her would ask her to come into his arms, the consummation of her girlish dreams was about to be realised.
drifting
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From this reading The point to which her life had been steadily drifting would be reached to-night.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading On what happened during the next few days--perhaps, during the next few hours--would depend in all probability the happiness, or the misery, of all the years that would follow.
Eve
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From this reading She knew that this Christmas Eve was to be a fateful time for her, her whole future seemed to be hanging in the balance.
face
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From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
fateful
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From this reading She knew that this Christmas Eve was to be a fateful time for her, her whole future seemed to be hanging in the balance.
few
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From this reading On what happened during the next few days--perhaps, during the next few hours--would depend in all probability the happiness, or the misery, of all the years that would follow.
follow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On what happened during the next few days--perhaps, during the next few hours--would depend in all probability the happiness, or the misery, of all the years that would follow.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She knew that this Christmas Eve was to be a fateful time for her, her whole future seemed to be hanging in the balance.
future
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From this reading She knew that this Christmas Eve was to be a fateful time for her, her whole future seemed to be hanging in the balance.
girlish
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From this reading The man who had been waiting for her would ask her to come into his arms, the consummation of her girlish dreams was about to be realised.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The point to which her life had been steadily drifting would be reached to-night.
Hall
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From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
hanging
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From this reading She knew that this Christmas Eve was to be a fateful time for her, her whole future seemed to be hanging in the balance.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On what happened during the next few days--perhaps, during the next few hours--would depend in all probability the happiness, or the misery, of all the years that would follow.
happiness
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From this reading On what happened during the next few days--perhaps, during the next few hours--would depend in all probability the happiness, or the misery, of all the years that would follow.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The man who had been waiting for her would ask her to come into his arms, the consummation of her girlish dreams was about to be realised.
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On what happened during the next few days--perhaps, during the next few hours--would depend in all probability the happiness, or the misery, of all the years that would follow.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She knew that this Christmas Eve was to be a fateful time for her, her whole future seemed to be hanging in the balance.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The man who had been waiting for her would ask her to come into his arms, the consummation of her girlish dreams was about to be realised.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She knew that this Christmas Eve was to be a fateful time for her, her whole future seemed to be hanging in the balance.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The point to which her life had been steadily drifting would be reached to-night.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
Madeline
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From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
man
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From this reading The man who had been waiting for her would ask her to come into his arms, the consummation of her girlish dreams was about to be realised.
meeting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
misery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On what happened during the next few days--perhaps, during the next few hours--would depend in all probability the happiness, or the misery, of all the years that would follow.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading On what happened during the next few days--perhaps, during the next few hours--would depend in all probability the happiness, or the misery, of all the years that would follow.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On what happened during the next few days--perhaps, during the next few hours--would depend in all probability the happiness, or the misery, of all the years that would follow.
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On what happened during the next few days--perhaps, during the next few hours--would depend in all probability the happiness, or the misery, of all the years that would follow.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading On what happened during the next few days--perhaps, during the next few hours--would depend in all probability the happiness, or the misery, of all the years that would follow.
perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On what happened during the next few days--perhaps, during the next few hours--would depend in all probability the happiness, or the misery, of all the years that would follow.
pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/
the main matter or purpose being discussed
From this reading The point to which her life had been steadily drifting would be reached to-night.
probability
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From this reading On what happened during the next few days--perhaps, during the next few hours--would depend in all probability the happiness, or the misery, of all the years that would follow.
reached
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From this reading The point to which her life had been steadily drifting would be reached to-night.
realised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man who had been waiting for her would ask her to come into his arms, the consummation of her girlish dreams was about to be realised.
Rufus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She knew that this Christmas Eve was to be a fateful time for her, her whole future seemed to be hanging in the balance.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She knew that this Christmas Eve was to be a fateful time for her, her whole future seemed to be hanging in the balance.
slowly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
steadily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The point to which her life had been steadily drifting would be reached to-night.
Sterne
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From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She knew that this Christmas Eve was to be a fateful time for her, her whole future seemed to be hanging in the balance.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading She knew that this Christmas Eve was to be a fateful time for her, her whole future seemed to be hanging in the balance.
thoughtful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
THREE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She knew that this Christmas Eve was to be a fateful time for her, her whole future seemed to be hanging in the balance.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
to-night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The point to which her life had been steadily drifting would be reached to-night.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
waiting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The man who had been waiting for her would ask her to come into his arms, the consummation of her girlish dreams was about to be realised.
walked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She knew that this Christmas Eve was to be a fateful time for her, her whole future seemed to be hanging in the balance.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading On what happened during the next few days--perhaps, during the next few hours--would depend in all probability the happiness, or the misery, of all the years that would follow.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The point to which her life had been steadily drifting would be reached to-night.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The man who had been waiting for her would ask her to come into his arms, the consummation of her girlish dreams was about to be realised.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She knew that this Christmas Eve was to be a fateful time for her, her whole future seemed to be hanging in the balance.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading On what happened during the next few days--perhaps, during the next few hours--would depend in all probability the happiness, or the misery, of all the years that would follow.
YEARS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AFTER THREE YEARS After her meeting with Rufus Sterne, Madeline walked slowly back to the Hall with a very thoughtful look upon her face.
