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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 Beth had never seen a maid--she had seen “girls,” “help,” even “servants,” but a maid!
Alida
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From this reading Beth was watching for the arrival of her Aunt Alida Cortlandt’s maid, who was to carry her off to the crowded metropolis.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
arrival
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From this reading Beth was watching for the arrival of her Aunt Alida Cortlandt’s maid, who was to carry her off to the crowded metropolis.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
Aunt
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From this reading Beth was watching for the arrival of her Aunt Alida Cortlandt’s maid, who was to carry her off to the crowded metropolis.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
Beth
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From this reading WHEN THE TRAIN PULLED OUT Beth sat by the window in spotless order.
betrayed
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From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
blackness
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From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
blue
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From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading WHEN THE TRAIN PULLED OUT Beth sat by the window in spotless order.
carry
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From this reading Beth was watching for the arrival of her Aunt Alida Cortlandt’s maid, who was to carry her off to the crowded metropolis.
clasped
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From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
contrast
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From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
Cortlandt's
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From this reading Beth was watching for the arrival of her Aunt Alida Cortlandt’s maid, who was to carry her off to the crowded metropolis.
crowded
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From this reading Beth was watching for the arrival of her Aunt Alida Cortlandt’s maid, who was to carry her off to the crowded metropolis.
dilated
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From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
doll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
effort
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From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Beth had never seen a maid--she had seen “girls,” “help,” even “servants,” but a maid!
eyes
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From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
face
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From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
favorite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
fingers
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From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Beth was watching for the arrival of her Aunt Alida Cortlandt’s maid, who was to carry her off to the crowded metropolis.
girl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
girls
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From this reading Beth had never seen a maid--she had seen “girls,” “help,” even “servants,” but a maid!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Beth had never seen a maid--she had seen “girls,” “help,” even “servants,” but a maid!
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
held
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
helpnounUS /help/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Beth had never seen a maid--she had seen “girls,” “help,” even “servants,” but a maid!
HerdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading WHEN THE TRAIN PULLED OUT Beth sat by the window in spotless order.
kept
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From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
lap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
maid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Beth was watching for the arrival of her Aunt Alida Cortlandt’s maid, who was to carry her off to the crowded metropolis.
metropolis
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From this reading Beth was watching for the arrival of her Aunt Alida Cortlandt’s maid, who was to carry her off to the crowded metropolis.
motionless
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From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Beth had never seen a maid--she had seen “girls,” “help,” even “servants,” but a maid!
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Beth was watching for the arrival of her Aunt Alida Cortlandt’s maid, who was to carry her off to the crowded metropolis.
opposite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
ordernounUS /order/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading WHEN THE TRAIN PULLED OUT Beth sat by the window in spotless order.
OUT
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From this reading WHEN THE TRAIN PULLED OUT Beth sat by the window in spotless order.
pallor
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From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
post
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
pressure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
PULLEDnounUS /pulled/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading WHEN THE TRAIN PULLED OUT Beth sat by the window in spotless order.
quiet
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From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
reddened
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From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
romping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
rosy
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From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
round
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From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN THE TRAIN PULLED OUT Beth sat by the window in spotless order.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Beth had never seen a maid--she had seen “girls,” “help,” even “servants,” but a maid!
servants
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Beth had never seen a maid--she had seen “girls,” “help,” even “servants,” but a maid!
severe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
sitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
spotless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN THE TRAIN PULLED OUT Beth sat by the window in spotless order.
stiffly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WHEN THE TRAIN PULLED OUT Beth sat by the window in spotless order.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
tips
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
TRAIN
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From this reading WHEN THE TRAIN PULLED OUT Beth sat by the window in spotless order.
usually
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From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
watching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Beth was watching for the arrival of her Aunt Alida Cortlandt’s maid, who was to carry her off to the crowded metropolis.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
WHENconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading WHEN THE TRAIN PULLED OUT Beth sat by the window in spotless order.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Beth was watching for the arrival of her Aunt Alida Cortlandt’s maid, who was to carry her off to the crowded metropolis.
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEN THE TRAIN PULLED OUT Beth sat by the window in spotless order.