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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 Tato was bright and smiling, filled with a suppressed joy which bubbled up in spite of the little one's effort to be dignified and sedate.
all
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From this reading THE PIT They met an hour later at luncheon, all but the Duchessa, who sulked in her garden.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE PIT They met an hour later at luncheon, all but the Duchessa, who sulked in her garden.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Tato was bright and smiling, filled with a suppressed joy which bubbled up in spite of the little one's effort to be dignified and sedate.
approvingly
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From this reading When her hand stole under the table to find and press that of her father, Uncle John beamed upon her approvingly; for he knew what had occurred and could sympathize with her delight.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE PIT They met an hour later at luncheon, all but the Duchessa, who sulked in her garden.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Tato was bright and smiling, filled with a suppressed joy which bubbled up in spite of the little one's effort to be dignified and sedate.
beamed
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From this reading When her hand stole under the table to find and press that of her father, Uncle John beamed upon her approvingly; for he knew what had occurred and could sympathize with her delight.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading He had defied his mother, successfully, so far; but he feared the terrible old woman more than did Tato, because he knew more of her history and of the bold and wicked deeds she had perpetrated in years gone by.
bold
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From this reading He had defied his mother, successfully, so far; but he feared the terrible old woman more than did Tato, because he knew more of her history and of the bold and wicked deeds she had perpetrated in years gone by.
bright
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tato was bright and smiling, filled with a suppressed joy which bubbled up in spite of the little one's effort to be dignified and sedate.
bubbled
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From this reading Tato was bright and smiling, filled with a suppressed joy which bubbled up in spite of the little one's effort to be dignified and sedate.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE PIT They met an hour later at luncheon, all but the Duchessa, who sulked in her garden.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He had defied his mother, successfully, so far; but he feared the terrible old woman more than did Tato, because he knew more of her history and of the bold and wicked deeds she had perpetrated in years gone by.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading When her hand stole under the table to find and press that of her father, Uncle John beamed upon her approvingly; for he knew what had occurred and could sympathize with her delight.
deeds
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From this reading He had defied his mother, successfully, so far; but he feared the terrible old woman more than did Tato, because he knew more of her history and of the bold and wicked deeds she had perpetrated in years gone by.
defied
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From this reading He had defied his mother, successfully, so far; but he feared the terrible old woman more than did Tato, because he knew more of her history and of the bold and wicked deeds she had perpetrated in years gone by.
delight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When her hand stole under the table to find and press that of her father, Uncle John beamed upon her approvingly; for he knew what had occurred and could sympathize with her delight.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He had defied his mother, successfully, so far; but he feared the terrible old woman more than did Tato, because he knew more of her history and of the bold and wicked deeds she had perpetrated in years gone by.
dignified
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From this reading Tato was bright and smiling, filled with a suppressed joy which bubbled up in spite of the little one's effort to be dignified and sedate.
Duchessa
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From this reading THE PIT They met an hour later at luncheon, all but the Duchessa, who sulked in her garden.
Duke
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From this reading The Duke, however, was more sombre than usual.
effort
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From this reading Tato was bright and smiling, filled with a suppressed joy which bubbled up in spite of the little one's effort to be dignified and sedate.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had defied his mother, successfully, so far; but he feared the terrible old woman more than did Tato, because he knew more of her history and of the bold and wicked deeds she had perpetrated in years gone by.
father
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From this reading When her hand stole under the table to find and press that of her father, Uncle John beamed upon her approvingly; for he knew what had occurred and could sympathize with her delight.
feared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had defied his mother, successfully, so far; but he feared the terrible old woman more than did Tato, because he knew more of her history and of the bold and wicked deeds she had perpetrated in years gone by.
filled
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From this reading Tato was bright and smiling, filled with a suppressed joy which bubbled up in spite of the little one's effort to be dignified and sedate.
find
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From this reading When her hand stole under the table to find and press that of her father, Uncle John beamed upon her approvingly; for he knew what had occurred and could sympathize with her delight.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When her hand stole under the table to find and press that of her father, Uncle John beamed upon her approvingly; for he knew what had occurred and could sympathize with her delight.
garden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PIT They met an hour later at luncheon, all but the Duchessa, who sulked in her garden.
gone
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From this reading He had defied his mother, successfully, so far; but he feared the terrible old woman more than did Tato, because he knew more of her history and of the bold and wicked deeds she had perpetrated in years gone by.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When her hand stole under the table to find and press that of her father, Uncle John beamed upon her approvingly; for he knew what had occurred and could sympathize with her delight.
hand
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From this reading When her hand stole under the table to find and press that of her father, Uncle John beamed upon her approvingly; for he knew what had occurred and could sympathize with her delight.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When her hand stole under the table to find and press that of her father, Uncle John beamed upon her approvingly; for he knew what had occurred and could sympathize with her delight.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE PIT They met an hour later at luncheon, all but the Duchessa, who sulked in her garden.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had defied his mother, successfully, so far; but he feared the terrible old woman more than did Tato, because he knew more of her history and of the bold and wicked deeds she had perpetrated in years gone by.
history
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had defied his mother, successfully, so far; but he feared the terrible old woman more than did Tato, because he knew more of her history and of the bold and wicked deeds she had perpetrated in years gone by.
hour
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From this reading THE PIT They met an hour later at luncheon, all but the Duchessa, who sulked in her garden.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading The Duke, however, was more sombre than usual.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE PIT They met an hour later at luncheon, all but the Duchessa, who sulked in her garden.
John
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From this reading When her hand stole under the table to find and press that of her father, Uncle John beamed upon her approvingly; for he knew what had occurred and could sympathize with her delight.
joy
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From this reading Tato was bright and smiling, filled with a suppressed joy which bubbled up in spite of the little one's effort to be dignified and sedate.
knew
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From this reading When her hand stole under the table to find and press that of her father, Uncle John beamed upon her approvingly; for he knew what had occurred and could sympathize with her delight.
later
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PIT They met an hour later at luncheon, all but the Duchessa, who sulked in her garden.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Tato was bright and smiling, filled with a suppressed joy which bubbled up in spite of the little one's effort to be dignified and sedate.
luncheon
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From this reading THE PIT They met an hour later at luncheon, all but the Duchessa, who sulked in her garden.
met
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From this reading THE PIT They met an hour later at luncheon, all but the Duchessa, who sulked in her garden.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Duke, however, was more sombre than usual.
mother
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From this reading He had defied his mother, successfully, so far; but he feared the terrible old woman more than did Tato, because he knew more of her history and of the bold and wicked deeds she had perpetrated in years gone by.
occurred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When her hand stole under the table to find and press that of her father, Uncle John beamed upon her approvingly; for he knew what had occurred and could sympathize with her delight.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Tato was bright and smiling, filled with a suppressed joy which bubbled up in spite of the little one's effort to be dignified and sedate.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had defied his mother, successfully, so far; but he feared the terrible old woman more than did Tato, because he knew more of her history and of the bold and wicked deeds she had perpetrated in years gone by.
one's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tato was bright and smiling, filled with a suppressed joy which bubbled up in spite of the little one's effort to be dignified and sedate.
perpetrated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had defied his mother, successfully, so far; but he feared the terrible old woman more than did Tato, because he knew more of her history and of the bold and wicked deeds she had perpetrated in years gone by.
PITnounUS /pɪt/
A large hole in the ground, or an abyss of darkness and peril.
From this reading THE PIT They met an hour later at luncheon, all but the Duchessa, who sulked in her garden.
press
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When her hand stole under the table to find and press that of her father, Uncle John beamed upon her approvingly; for he knew what had occurred and could sympathize with her delight.
sedate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tato was bright and smiling, filled with a suppressed joy which bubbled up in spite of the little one's effort to be dignified and sedate.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had defied his mother, successfully, so far; but he feared the terrible old woman more than did Tato, because he knew more of her history and of the bold and wicked deeds she had perpetrated in years gone by.
smiling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tato was bright and smiling, filled with a suppressed joy which bubbled up in spite of the little one's effort to be dignified and sedate.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He had defied his mother, successfully, so far; but he feared the terrible old woman more than did Tato, because he knew more of her history and of the bold and wicked deeds she had perpetrated in years gone by.
sombre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Duke, however, was more sombre than usual.
spite
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From this reading Tato was bright and smiling, filled with a suppressed joy which bubbled up in spite of the little one's effort to be dignified and sedate.
stole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When her hand stole under the table to find and press that of her father, Uncle John beamed upon her approvingly; for he knew what had occurred and could sympathize with her delight.
successfully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had defied his mother, successfully, so far; but he feared the terrible old woman more than did Tato, because he knew more of her history and of the bold and wicked deeds she had perpetrated in years gone by.
sulked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE PIT They met an hour later at luncheon, all but the Duchessa, who sulked in her garden.
suppressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tato was bright and smiling, filled with a suppressed joy which bubbled up in spite of the little one's effort to be dignified and sedate.
sympathize
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When her hand stole under the table to find and press that of her father, Uncle John beamed upon her approvingly; for he knew what had occurred and could sympathize with her delight.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When her hand stole under the table to find and press that of her father, Uncle John beamed upon her approvingly; for he knew what had occurred and could sympathize with her delight.
Tato
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tato was bright and smiling, filled with a suppressed joy which bubbled up in spite of the little one's effort to be dignified and sedate.
terriblenounUS /ˈterrible/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He had defied his mother, successfully, so far; but he feared the terrible old woman more than did Tato, because he knew more of her history and of the bold and wicked deeds she had perpetrated in years gone by.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The Duke, however, was more sombre than usual.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When her hand stole under the table to find and press that of her father, Uncle John beamed upon her approvingly; for he knew what had occurred and could sympathize with her delight.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PIT They met an hour later at luncheon, all but the Duchessa, who sulked in her garden.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE PIT They met an hour later at luncheon, all but the Duchessa, who sulked in her garden.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Tato was bright and smiling, filled with a suppressed joy which bubbled up in spite of the little one's effort to be dignified and sedate.
Uncle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When her hand stole under the table to find and press that of her father, Uncle John beamed upon her approvingly; for he knew what had occurred and could sympathize with her delight.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading When her hand stole under the table to find and press that of her father, Uncle John beamed upon her approvingly; for he knew what had occurred and could sympathize with her delight.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Tato was bright and smiling, filled with a suppressed joy which bubbled up in spite of the little one's effort to be dignified and sedate.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading When her hand stole under the table to find and press that of her father, Uncle John beamed upon her approvingly; for he knew what had occurred and could sympathize with her delight.
usual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Duke, however, was more sombre than usual.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Tato was bright and smiling, filled with a suppressed joy which bubbled up in spite of the little one's effort to be dignified and sedate.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading When her hand stole under the table to find and press that of her father, Uncle John beamed upon her approvingly; for he knew what had occurred and could sympathize with her delight.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When her hand stole under the table to find and press that of her father, Uncle John beamed upon her approvingly; for he knew what had occurred and could sympathize with her delight.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Tato was bright and smiling, filled with a suppressed joy which bubbled up in spite of the little one's effort to be dignified and sedate.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading THE PIT They met an hour later at luncheon, all but the Duchessa, who sulked in her garden.
wicked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had defied his mother, successfully, so far; but he feared the terrible old woman more than did Tato, because he knew more of her history and of the bold and wicked deeds she had perpetrated in years gone by.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Tato was bright and smiling, filled with a suppressed joy which bubbled up in spite of the little one's effort to be dignified and sedate.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had defied his mother, successfully, so far; but he feared the terrible old woman more than did Tato, because he knew more of her history and of the bold and wicked deeds she had perpetrated in years gone by.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had defied his mother, successfully, so far; but he feared the terrible old woman more than did Tato, because he knew more of her history and of the bold and wicked deeds she had perpetrated in years gone by.
