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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 morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The inspector sat at his desk, yawning after a night which had passed without an arrest.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The inspector sat at his desk, yawning after a night which had passed without an arrest.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
apprehension
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
arrest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The inspector sat at his desk, yawning after a night which had passed without an arrest.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The inspector sat at his desk, yawning after a night which had passed without an arrest.
bare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He was waiting to be relieved.
bench
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The policeman at the door and the two policemen sitting on a bench by the wall yawned in sympathy.
brokennounUS /broken/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
crime
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
criminals
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
desk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The inspector sat at his desk, yawning after a night which had passed without an arrest.
detailsnounUS /ˈdetails/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
dingy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
dismal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The policeman at the door and the two policemen sitting on a bench by the wall yawned in sympathy.
entirelynounUS /ˈentirely/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
expanse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
fireplace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
furniture
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
gloomy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
grey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The inspector sat at his desk, yawning after a night which had passed without an arrest.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was waiting to be relieved.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The inspector sat at his desk, yawning after a night which had passed without an arrest.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
inspector
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The inspector sat at his desk, yawning after a night which had passed without an arrest.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
keeping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
motor-car
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The silence of the street was broken by the rattle of an uncommonly noisy motor-car.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The inspector sat at his desk, yawning after a night which had passed without an arrest.
noisy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The silence of the street was broken by the rattle of an uncommonly noisy motor-car.
notice-boards
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
offered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The policeman at the door and the two policemen sitting on a bench by the wall yawned in sympathy.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
passednounUS /passed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The inspector sat at his desk, yawning after a night which had passed without an arrest.
pinned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
police-station
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
policeman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The policeman at the door and the two policemen sitting on a bench by the wall yawned in sympathy.
policemen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The policeman at the door and the two policemen sitting on a bench by the wall yawned in sympathy.
portraits
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
presented
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
rattle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The silence of the street was broken by the rattle of an uncommonly noisy motor-car.
relievednounUS /ˈrelieved/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He was waiting to be relieved.
reward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The inspector sat at his desk, yawning after a night which had passed without an arrest.
September
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
shabby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading The silence of the street was broken by the rattle of an uncommonly noisy motor-car.
sitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The policeman at the door and the two policemen sitting on a bench by the wall yawned in sympathy.
sordid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The silence of the street was broken by the rattle of an uncommonly noisy motor-car.
sympathy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The policeman at the door and the two policemen sitting on a bench by the wall yawned in sympathy.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The policeman at the door and the two policemen sitting on a bench by the wall yawned in sympathy.
uncommonly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The silence of the street was broken by the rattle of an uncommonly noisy motor-car.
waiting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was waiting to be relieved.
wall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The policeman at the door and the two policemen sitting on a bench by the wall yawned in sympathy.
walls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
white-washed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The morning was gloomy, and the police-station with its bare, white-washed walls—their white expanse was only broken by notice-boards to which were pinned portraits of criminals with details of their appearance, their crime, and the reward offered for their apprehension—with its shabby furniture, and its dingy fireplace, presented a dismal and sordid appearance entirely in keeping with the September grey.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The inspector sat at his desk, yawning after a night which had passed without an arrest.
yawned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The policeman at the door and the two policemen sitting on a bench by the wall yawned in sympathy.
yawning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The inspector sat at his desk, yawning after a night which had passed without an arrest.
