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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 The innocent originator of all this complicated misery had passed many a wretched hour since the birthday banquet.
abruptly
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From this reading Not a day had passed since her arrival in Babylon, that had not been spent with Kassandane and Atossa; but now, on her desiring to be carried to them, that she might explain her strange conduct, her new guard, Kandaules, forbade her abruptly to leave the house.
account
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From this reading She had thought that a free and full account of the contents of her letter from home, would clear up all these misunderstandings.
all
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From this reading The innocent originator of all this complicated misery had passed many a wretched hour since the birthday banquet.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Since those harsh words with which Cambyses had sent her from the hall, not the smallest fragment of news had reached her concerning either her angry lover, or his mother and sister.
angry
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From this reading Since those harsh words with which Cambyses had sent her from the hall, not the smallest fragment of news had reached her concerning either her angry lover, or his mother and sister.
arrival
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From this reading Not a day had passed since her arrival in Babylon, that had not been spent with Kassandane and Atossa; but now, on her desiring to be carried to them, that she might explain her strange conduct, her new guard, Kandaules, forbade her abruptly to leave the house.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She fancied she saw Cambyses holding out his hand as if to ask forgiveness for his hastiness and foolish jealousy.
ask
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From this reading She fancied she saw Cambyses holding out his hand as if to ask forgiveness for his hastiness and foolish jealousy.
Atossa
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From this reading Not a day had passed since her arrival in Babylon, that had not been spent with Kassandane and Atossa; but now, on her desiring to be carried to them, that she might explain her strange conduct, her new guard, Kandaules, forbade her abruptly to leave the house.
Babylon
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From this reading Not a day had passed since her arrival in Babylon, that had not been spent with Kassandane and Atossa; but now, on her desiring to be carried to them, that she might explain her strange conduct, her new guard, Kandaules, forbade her abruptly to leave the house.
banquet
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From this reading The innocent originator of all this complicated misery had passed many a wretched hour since the birthday banquet.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Not a day had passed since her arrival in Babylon, that had not been spent with Kassandane and Atossa; but now, on her desiring to be carried to them, that she might explain her strange conduct, her new guard, Kandaules, forbade her abruptly to leave the house.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Not a day had passed since her arrival in Babylon, that had not been spent with Kassandane and Atossa; but now, on her desiring to be carried to them, that she might explain her strange conduct, her new guard, Kandaules, forbade her abruptly to leave the house.
birthday
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From this reading The innocent originator of all this complicated misery had passed many a wretched hour since the birthday banquet.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Not a day had passed since her arrival in Babylon, that had not been spent with Kassandane and Atossa; but now, on her desiring to be carried to them, that she might explain her strange conduct, her new guard, Kandaules, forbade her abruptly to leave the house.
Cambyses
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From this reading Since those harsh words with which Cambyses had sent her from the hall, not the smallest fragment of news had reached her concerning either her angry lover, or his mother and sister.
carried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a day had passed since her arrival in Babylon, that had not been spent with Kassandane and Atossa; but now, on her desiring to be carried to them, that she might explain her strange conduct, her new guard, Kandaules, forbade her abruptly to leave the house.
clear
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From this reading She had thought that a free and full account of the contents of her letter from home, would clear up all these misunderstandings.
complicated
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From this reading The innocent originator of all this complicated misery had passed many a wretched hour since the birthday banquet.
concerning
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From this reading Since those harsh words with which Cambyses had sent her from the hall, not the smallest fragment of news had reached her concerning either her angry lover, or his mother and sister.
conduct
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a day had passed since her arrival in Babylon, that had not been spent with Kassandane and Atossa; but now, on her desiring to be carried to them, that she might explain her strange conduct, her new guard, Kandaules, forbade her abruptly to leave the house.
contents
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had thought that a free and full account of the contents of her letter from home, would clear up all these misunderstandings.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a day had passed since her arrival in Babylon, that had not been spent with Kassandane and Atossa; but now, on her desiring to be carried to them, that she might explain her strange conduct, her new guard, Kandaules, forbade her abruptly to leave the house.
desiring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a day had passed since her arrival in Babylon, that had not been spent with Kassandane and Atossa; but now, on her desiring to be carried to them, that she might explain her strange conduct, her new guard, Kandaules, forbade her abruptly to leave the house.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading Since those harsh words with which Cambyses had sent her from the hall, not the smallest fragment of news had reached her concerning either her angry lover, or his mother and sister.
explain
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From this reading Not a day had passed since her arrival in Babylon, that had not been spent with Kassandane and Atossa; but now, on her desiring to be carried to them, that she might explain her strange conduct, her new guard, Kandaules, forbade her abruptly to leave the house.
fancied
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From this reading She fancied she saw Cambyses holding out his hand as if to ask forgiveness for his hastiness and foolish jealousy.
foolish
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From this reading She fancied she saw Cambyses holding out his hand as if to ask forgiveness for his hastiness and foolish jealousy.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She fancied she saw Cambyses holding out his hand as if to ask forgiveness for his hastiness and foolish jealousy.
forbade
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a day had passed since her arrival in Babylon, that had not been spent with Kassandane and Atossa; but now, on her desiring to be carried to them, that she might explain her strange conduct, her new guard, Kandaules, forbade her abruptly to leave the house.
forgiveness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She fancied she saw Cambyses holding out his hand as if to ask forgiveness for his hastiness and foolish jealousy.
fragmentnounUS /ˈfræɡ.mənt/
A small part broken or separated off something larger.
From this reading Since those harsh words with which Cambyses had sent her from the hall, not the smallest fragment of news had reached her concerning either her angry lover, or his mother and sister.
freeadjectiveUS /friː/
acting without enough restraint or discipline
From this reading She had thought that a free and full account of the contents of her letter from home, would clear up all these misunderstandings.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Since those harsh words with which Cambyses had sent her from the hall, not the smallest fragment of news had reached her concerning either her angry lover, or his mother and sister.
full
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had thought that a free and full account of the contents of her letter from home, would clear up all these misunderstandings.
guard
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From this reading Not a day had passed since her arrival in Babylon, that had not been spent with Kassandane and Atossa; but now, on her desiring to be carried to them, that she might explain her strange conduct, her new guard, Kandaules, forbade her abruptly to leave the house.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The innocent originator of all this complicated misery had passed many a wretched hour since the birthday banquet.
hall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since those harsh words with which Cambyses had sent her from the hall, not the smallest fragment of news had reached her concerning either her angry lover, or his mother and sister.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She fancied she saw Cambyses holding out his hand as if to ask forgiveness for his hastiness and foolish jealousy.
harsh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since those harsh words with which Cambyses had sent her from the hall, not the smallest fragment of news had reached her concerning either her angry lover, or his mother and sister.
hastiness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She fancied she saw Cambyses holding out his hand as if to ask forgiveness for his hastiness and foolish jealousy.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Since those harsh words with which Cambyses had sent her from the hall, not the smallest fragment of news had reached her concerning either her angry lover, or his mother and sister.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Since those harsh words with which Cambyses had sent her from the hall, not the smallest fragment of news had reached her concerning either her angry lover, or his mother and sister.
holding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She fancied she saw Cambyses holding out his hand as if to ask forgiveness for his hastiness and foolish jealousy.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had thought that a free and full account of the contents of her letter from home, would clear up all these misunderstandings.
hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The innocent originator of all this complicated misery had passed many a wretched hour since the birthday banquet.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a day had passed since her arrival in Babylon, that had not been spent with Kassandane and Atossa; but now, on her desiring to be carried to them, that she might explain her strange conduct, her new guard, Kandaules, forbade her abruptly to leave the house.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading She fancied she saw Cambyses holding out his hand as if to ask forgiveness for his hastiness and foolish jealousy.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Not a day had passed since her arrival in Babylon, that had not been spent with Kassandane and Atossa; but now, on her desiring to be carried to them, that she might explain her strange conduct, her new guard, Kandaules, forbade her abruptly to leave the house.
innocent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The innocent originator of all this complicated misery had passed many a wretched hour since the birthday banquet.
jealousy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She fancied she saw Cambyses holding out his hand as if to ask forgiveness for his hastiness and foolish jealousy.
Kandaules
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From this reading Not a day had passed since her arrival in Babylon, that had not been spent with Kassandane and Atossa; but now, on her desiring to be carried to them, that she might explain her strange conduct, her new guard, Kandaules, forbade her abruptly to leave the house.
Kassandane
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From this reading Not a day had passed since her arrival in Babylon, that had not been spent with Kassandane and Atossa; but now, on her desiring to be carried to them, that she might explain her strange conduct, her new guard, Kandaules, forbade her abruptly to leave the house.
leave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a day had passed since her arrival in Babylon, that had not been spent with Kassandane and Atossa; but now, on her desiring to be carried to them, that she might explain her strange conduct, her new guard, Kandaules, forbade her abruptly to leave the house.
letter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had thought that a free and full account of the contents of her letter from home, would clear up all these misunderstandings.
lover
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since those harsh words with which Cambyses had sent her from the hall, not the smallest fragment of news had reached her concerning either her angry lover, or his mother and sister.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The innocent originator of all this complicated misery had passed many a wretched hour since the birthday banquet.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Not a day had passed since her arrival in Babylon, that had not been spent with Kassandane and Atossa; but now, on her desiring to be carried to them, that she might explain her strange conduct, her new guard, Kandaules, forbade her abruptly to leave the house.
misery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The innocent originator of all this complicated misery had passed many a wretched hour since the birthday banquet.
misunderstandings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had thought that a free and full account of the contents of her letter from home, would clear up all these misunderstandings.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since those harsh words with which Cambyses had sent her from the hall, not the smallest fragment of news had reached her concerning either her angry lover, or his mother and sister.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a day had passed since her arrival in Babylon, that had not been spent with Kassandane and Atossa; but now, on her desiring to be carried to them, that she might explain her strange conduct, her new guard, Kandaules, forbade her abruptly to leave the house.
news
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since those harsh words with which Cambyses had sent her from the hall, not the smallest fragment of news had reached her concerning either her angry lover, or his mother and sister.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Since those harsh words with which Cambyses had sent her from the hall, not the smallest fragment of news had reached her concerning either her angry lover, or his mother and sister.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a day had passed since her arrival in Babylon, that had not been spent with Kassandane and Atossa; but now, on her desiring to be carried to them, that she might explain her strange conduct, her new guard, Kandaules, forbade her abruptly to leave the house.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The innocent originator of all this complicated misery had passed many a wretched hour since the birthday banquet.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Not a day had passed since her arrival in Babylon, that had not been spent with Kassandane and Atossa; but now, on her desiring to be carried to them, that she might explain her strange conduct, her new guard, Kandaules, forbade her abruptly to leave the house.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Since those harsh words with which Cambyses had sent her from the hall, not the smallest fragment of news had reached her concerning either her angry lover, or his mother and sister.
originator
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The innocent originator of all this complicated misery had passed many a wretched hour since the birthday banquet.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She fancied she saw Cambyses holding out his hand as if to ask forgiveness for his hastiness and foolish jealousy.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The innocent originator of all this complicated misery had passed many a wretched hour since the birthday banquet.
reached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since those harsh words with which Cambyses had sent her from the hall, not the smallest fragment of news had reached her concerning either her angry lover, or his mother and sister.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She fancied she saw Cambyses holding out his hand as if to ask forgiveness for his hastiness and foolish jealousy.
sent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since those harsh words with which Cambyses had sent her from the hall, not the smallest fragment of news had reached her concerning either her angry lover, or his mother and sister.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Not a day had passed since her arrival in Babylon, that had not been spent with Kassandane and Atossa; but now, on her desiring to be carried to them, that she might explain her strange conduct, her new guard, Kandaules, forbade her abruptly to leave the house.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading The innocent originator of all this complicated misery had passed many a wretched hour since the birthday banquet.
sister
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since those harsh words with which Cambyses had sent her from the hall, not the smallest fragment of news had reached her concerning either her angry lover, or his mother and sister.
smallest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since those harsh words with which Cambyses had sent her from the hall, not the smallest fragment of news had reached her concerning either her angry lover, or his mother and sister.
spent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a day had passed since her arrival in Babylon, that had not been spent with Kassandane and Atossa; but now, on her desiring to be carried to them, that she might explain her strange conduct, her new guard, Kandaules, forbade her abruptly to leave the house.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not a day had passed since her arrival in Babylon, that had not been spent with Kassandane and Atossa; but now, on her desiring to be carried to them, that she might explain her strange conduct, her new guard, Kandaules, forbade her abruptly to leave the house.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Not a day had passed since her arrival in Babylon, that had not been spent with Kassandane and Atossa; but now, on her desiring to be carried to them, that she might explain her strange conduct, her new guard, Kandaules, forbade her abruptly to leave the house.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The innocent originator of all this complicated misery had passed many a wretched hour since the birthday banquet.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Not a day had passed since her arrival in Babylon, that had not been spent with Kassandane and Atossa; but now, on her desiring to be carried to them, that she might explain her strange conduct, her new guard, Kandaules, forbade her abruptly to leave the house.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading She had thought that a free and full account of the contents of her letter from home, would clear up all these misunderstandings.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The innocent originator of all this complicated misery had passed many a wretched hour since the birthday banquet.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Since those harsh words with which Cambyses had sent her from the hall, not the smallest fragment of news had reached her concerning either her angry lover, or his mother and sister.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had thought that a free and full account of the contents of her letter from home, would clear up all these misunderstandings.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Not a day had passed since her arrival in Babylon, that had not been spent with Kassandane and Atossa; but now, on her desiring to be carried to them, that she might explain her strange conduct, her new guard, Kandaules, forbade her abruptly to leave the house.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had thought that a free and full account of the contents of her letter from home, would clear up all these misunderstandings.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Since those harsh words with which Cambyses had sent her from the hall, not the smallest fragment of news had reached her concerning either her angry lover, or his mother and sister.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Since those harsh words with which Cambyses had sent her from the hall, not the smallest fragment of news had reached her concerning either her angry lover, or his mother and sister.
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since those harsh words with which Cambyses had sent her from the hall, not the smallest fragment of news had reached her concerning either her angry lover, or his mother and sister.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She had thought that a free and full account of the contents of her letter from home, would clear up all these misunderstandings.
wretched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The innocent originator of all this complicated misery had passed many a wretched hour since the birthday banquet.