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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 They were on the second floor of the house, and attainable through two turns in the lower entry, a winding flight of narrow stairs, and an uncertain, darkly erratic route above.
Abbie's
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From this reading Bressant occupied two adjoining rooms at Abbie's boarding-house; one contained his bed and the other was fitted up as his study.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading They were on the second floor of the house, and attainable through two turns in the lower entry, a winding flight of narrow stairs, and an uncertain, darkly erratic route above.
adjoining
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From this reading Bressant occupied two adjoining rooms at Abbie's boarding-house; one contained his bed and the other was fitted up as his study.
all
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From this reading The furniture consisted of a deal table with a folding leaf, a chair, a stove--which, perhaps because it was so small, had been permitted to remain all summer--and a broad-seated lounge with squeaky springs, but quite roomy and comfortable, which monopolized a large portion of the room.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They were on the second floor of the house, and attainable through two turns in the lower entry, a winding flight of narrow stairs, and an uncertain, darkly erratic route above.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Bressant occupied two adjoining rooms at Abbie's boarding-house; one contained his bed and the other was fitted up as his study.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Bressant occupied two adjoining rooms at Abbie's boarding-house; one contained his bed and the other was fitted up as his study.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Bressant occupied two adjoining rooms at Abbie's boarding-house; one contained his bed and the other was fitted up as his study.
attainable
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From this reading They were on the second floor of the house, and attainable through two turns in the lower entry, a winding flight of narrow stairs, and an uncertain, darkly erratic route above.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading The furniture consisted of a deal table with a folding leaf, a chair, a stove--which, perhaps because it was so small, had been permitted to remain all summer--and a broad-seated lounge with squeaky springs, but quite roomy and comfortable, which monopolized a large portion of the room.
bed
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From this reading Bressant occupied two adjoining rooms at Abbie's boarding-house; one contained his bed and the other was fitted up as his study.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The study was some twelve feet by eight; the floor ornamented by a carpet which, to judge from the size of the pattern, must have been designed to grace some fifty-foot drawing-room.
boarding-house
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From this reading Bressant occupied two adjoining rooms at Abbie's boarding-house; one contained his bed and the other was fitted up as his study.
Bressant
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From this reading Bressant occupied two adjoining rooms at Abbie's boarding-house; one contained his bed and the other was fitted up as his study.
broad-seated
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From this reading The furniture consisted of a deal table with a folding leaf, a chair, a stove--which, perhaps because it was so small, had been permitted to remain all summer--and a broad-seated lounge with squeaky springs, but quite roomy and comfortable, which monopolized a large portion of the room.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The furniture consisted of a deal table with a folding leaf, a chair, a stove--which, perhaps because it was so small, had been permitted to remain all summer--and a broad-seated lounge with squeaky springs, but quite roomy and comfortable, which monopolized a large portion of the room.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The study was some twelve feet by eight; the floor ornamented by a carpet which, to judge from the size of the pattern, must have been designed to grace some fifty-foot drawing-room.
carpet
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From this reading The study was some twelve feet by eight; the floor ornamented by a carpet which, to judge from the size of the pattern, must have been designed to grace some fifty-foot drawing-room.
chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The furniture consisted of a deal table with a folding leaf, a chair, a stove--which, perhaps because it was so small, had been permitted to remain all summer--and a broad-seated lounge with squeaky springs, but quite roomy and comfortable, which monopolized a large portion of the room.
comfortable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The furniture consisted of a deal table with a folding leaf, a chair, a stove--which, perhaps because it was so small, had been permitted to remain all summer--and a broad-seated lounge with squeaky springs, but quite roomy and comfortable, which monopolized a large portion of the room.
consisted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The furniture consisted of a deal table with a folding leaf, a chair, a stove--which, perhaps because it was so small, had been permitted to remain all summer--and a broad-seated lounge with squeaky springs, but quite roomy and comfortable, which monopolized a large portion of the room.
contained
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From this reading Bressant occupied two adjoining rooms at Abbie's boarding-house; one contained his bed and the other was fitted up as his study.
DAGUERROTYPE
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From this reading THE DAGUERROTYPE.
darkly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were on the second floor of the house, and attainable through two turns in the lower entry, a winding flight of narrow stairs, and an uncertain, darkly erratic route above.
deal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The furniture consisted of a deal table with a folding leaf, a chair, a stove--which, perhaps because it was so small, had been permitted to remain all summer--and a broad-seated lounge with squeaky springs, but quite roomy and comfortable, which monopolized a large portion of the room.
designed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The study was some twelve feet by eight; the floor ornamented by a carpet which, to judge from the size of the pattern, must have been designed to grace some fifty-foot drawing-room.
drawing-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The study was some twelve feet by eight; the floor ornamented by a carpet which, to judge from the size of the pattern, must have been designed to grace some fifty-foot drawing-room.
eight
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From this reading The study was some twelve feet by eight; the floor ornamented by a carpet which, to judge from the size of the pattern, must have been designed to grace some fifty-foot drawing-room.
entry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were on the second floor of the house, and attainable through two turns in the lower entry, a winding flight of narrow stairs, and an uncertain, darkly erratic route above.
erratic
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From this reading They were on the second floor of the house, and attainable through two turns in the lower entry, a winding flight of narrow stairs, and an uncertain, darkly erratic route above.
feet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The study was some twelve feet by eight; the floor ornamented by a carpet which, to judge from the size of the pattern, must have been designed to grace some fifty-foot drawing-room.
fifty-foot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The study was some twelve feet by eight; the floor ornamented by a carpet which, to judge from the size of the pattern, must have been designed to grace some fifty-foot drawing-room.
fittedadjectiveUS /ˈfɪtɪd/
prepared and equipped for a particular purpose
From this reading Bressant occupied two adjoining rooms at Abbie's boarding-house; one contained his bed and the other was fitted up as his study.
flight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were on the second floor of the house, and attainable through two turns in the lower entry, a winding flight of narrow stairs, and an uncertain, darkly erratic route above.
floor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were on the second floor of the house, and attainable through two turns in the lower entry, a winding flight of narrow stairs, and an uncertain, darkly erratic route above.
folding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The furniture consisted of a deal table with a folding leaf, a chair, a stove--which, perhaps because it was so small, had been permitted to remain all summer--and a broad-seated lounge with squeaky springs, but quite roomy and comfortable, which monopolized a large portion of the room.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The study was some twelve feet by eight; the floor ornamented by a carpet which, to judge from the size of the pattern, must have been designed to grace some fifty-foot drawing-room.
furniture
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The furniture consisted of a deal table with a folding leaf, a chair, a stove--which, perhaps because it was so small, had been permitted to remain all summer--and a broad-seated lounge with squeaky springs, but quite roomy and comfortable, which monopolized a large portion of the room.
grace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The study was some twelve feet by eight; the floor ornamented by a carpet which, to judge from the size of the pattern, must have been designed to grace some fifty-foot drawing-room.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The furniture consisted of a deal table with a folding leaf, a chair, a stove--which, perhaps because it was so small, had been permitted to remain all summer--and a broad-seated lounge with squeaky springs, but quite roomy and comfortable, which monopolized a large portion of the room.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The study was some twelve feet by eight; the floor ornamented by a carpet which, to judge from the size of the pattern, must have been designed to grace some fifty-foot drawing-room.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Bressant occupied two adjoining rooms at Abbie's boarding-house; one contained his bed and the other was fitted up as his study.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were on the second floor of the house, and attainable through two turns in the lower entry, a winding flight of narrow stairs, and an uncertain, darkly erratic route above.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They were on the second floor of the house, and attainable through two turns in the lower entry, a winding flight of narrow stairs, and an uncertain, darkly erratic route above.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The furniture consisted of a deal table with a folding leaf, a chair, a stove--which, perhaps because it was so small, had been permitted to remain all summer--and a broad-seated lounge with squeaky springs, but quite roomy and comfortable, which monopolized a large portion of the room.
judge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The study was some twelve feet by eight; the floor ornamented by a carpet which, to judge from the size of the pattern, must have been designed to grace some fifty-foot drawing-room.
large
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The furniture consisted of a deal table with a folding leaf, a chair, a stove--which, perhaps because it was so small, had been permitted to remain all summer--and a broad-seated lounge with squeaky springs, but quite roomy and comfortable, which monopolized a large portion of the room.
leaf
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The furniture consisted of a deal table with a folding leaf, a chair, a stove--which, perhaps because it was so small, had been permitted to remain all summer--and a broad-seated lounge with squeaky springs, but quite roomy and comfortable, which monopolized a large portion of the room.
lounge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The furniture consisted of a deal table with a folding leaf, a chair, a stove--which, perhaps because it was so small, had been permitted to remain all summer--and a broad-seated lounge with squeaky springs, but quite roomy and comfortable, which monopolized a large portion of the room.
lower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were on the second floor of the house, and attainable through two turns in the lower entry, a winding flight of narrow stairs, and an uncertain, darkly erratic route above.
monopolized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The furniture consisted of a deal table with a folding leaf, a chair, a stove--which, perhaps because it was so small, had been permitted to remain all summer--and a broad-seated lounge with squeaky springs, but quite roomy and comfortable, which monopolized a large portion of the room.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading The study was some twelve feet by eight; the floor ornamented by a carpet which, to judge from the size of the pattern, must have been designed to grace some fifty-foot drawing-room.
narrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were on the second floor of the house, and attainable through two turns in the lower entry, a winding flight of narrow stairs, and an uncertain, darkly erratic route above.
occupied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bressant occupied two adjoining rooms at Abbie's boarding-house; one contained his bed and the other was fitted up as his study.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They were on the second floor of the house, and attainable through two turns in the lower entry, a winding flight of narrow stairs, and an uncertain, darkly erratic route above.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They were on the second floor of the house, and attainable through two turns in the lower entry, a winding flight of narrow stairs, and an uncertain, darkly erratic route above.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Bressant occupied two adjoining rooms at Abbie's boarding-house; one contained his bed and the other was fitted up as his study.
ornamented
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The study was some twelve feet by eight; the floor ornamented by a carpet which, to judge from the size of the pattern, must have been designed to grace some fifty-foot drawing-room.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bressant occupied two adjoining rooms at Abbie's boarding-house; one contained his bed and the other was fitted up as his study.
pattern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The study was some twelve feet by eight; the floor ornamented by a carpet which, to judge from the size of the pattern, must have been designed to grace some fifty-foot drawing-room.
perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The furniture consisted of a deal table with a folding leaf, a chair, a stove--which, perhaps because it was so small, had been permitted to remain all summer--and a broad-seated lounge with squeaky springs, but quite roomy and comfortable, which monopolized a large portion of the room.
permitted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The furniture consisted of a deal table with a folding leaf, a chair, a stove--which, perhaps because it was so small, had been permitted to remain all summer--and a broad-seated lounge with squeaky springs, but quite roomy and comfortable, which monopolized a large portion of the room.
portion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The furniture consisted of a deal table with a folding leaf, a chair, a stove--which, perhaps because it was so small, had been permitted to remain all summer--and a broad-seated lounge with squeaky springs, but quite roomy and comfortable, which monopolized a large portion of the room.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The furniture consisted of a deal table with a folding leaf, a chair, a stove--which, perhaps because it was so small, had been permitted to remain all summer--and a broad-seated lounge with squeaky springs, but quite roomy and comfortable, which monopolized a large portion of the room.
remain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The furniture consisted of a deal table with a folding leaf, a chair, a stove--which, perhaps because it was so small, had been permitted to remain all summer--and a broad-seated lounge with squeaky springs, but quite roomy and comfortable, which monopolized a large portion of the room.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The furniture consisted of a deal table with a folding leaf, a chair, a stove--which, perhaps because it was so small, had been permitted to remain all summer--and a broad-seated lounge with squeaky springs, but quite roomy and comfortable, which monopolized a large portion of the room.
rooms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bressant occupied two adjoining rooms at Abbie's boarding-house; one contained his bed and the other was fitted up as his study.
roomy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The furniture consisted of a deal table with a folding leaf, a chair, a stove--which, perhaps because it was so small, had been permitted to remain all summer--and a broad-seated lounge with squeaky springs, but quite roomy and comfortable, which monopolized a large portion of the room.
route
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were on the second floor of the house, and attainable through two turns in the lower entry, a winding flight of narrow stairs, and an uncertain, darkly erratic route above.
second
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were on the second floor of the house, and attainable through two turns in the lower entry, a winding flight of narrow stairs, and an uncertain, darkly erratic route above.
size
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The study was some twelve feet by eight; the floor ornamented by a carpet which, to judge from the size of the pattern, must have been designed to grace some fifty-foot drawing-room.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The furniture consisted of a deal table with a folding leaf, a chair, a stove--which, perhaps because it was so small, had been permitted to remain all summer--and a broad-seated lounge with squeaky springs, but quite roomy and comfortable, which monopolized a large portion of the room.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The furniture consisted of a deal table with a folding leaf, a chair, a stove--which, perhaps because it was so small, had been permitted to remain all summer--and a broad-seated lounge with squeaky springs, but quite roomy and comfortable, which monopolized a large portion of the room.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The study was some twelve feet by eight; the floor ornamented by a carpet which, to judge from the size of the pattern, must have been designed to grace some fifty-foot drawing-room.
springs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The furniture consisted of a deal table with a folding leaf, a chair, a stove--which, perhaps because it was so small, had been permitted to remain all summer--and a broad-seated lounge with squeaky springs, but quite roomy and comfortable, which monopolized a large portion of the room.
squeaky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The furniture consisted of a deal table with a folding leaf, a chair, a stove--which, perhaps because it was so small, had been permitted to remain all summer--and a broad-seated lounge with squeaky springs, but quite roomy and comfortable, which monopolized a large portion of the room.
stairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were on the second floor of the house, and attainable through two turns in the lower entry, a winding flight of narrow stairs, and an uncertain, darkly erratic route above.
stove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The furniture consisted of a deal table with a folding leaf, a chair, a stove--which, perhaps because it was so small, had been permitted to remain all summer--and a broad-seated lounge with squeaky springs, but quite roomy and comfortable, which monopolized a large portion of the room.
study
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bressant occupied two adjoining rooms at Abbie's boarding-house; one contained his bed and the other was fitted up as his study.
summer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The furniture consisted of a deal table with a folding leaf, a chair, a stove--which, perhaps because it was so small, had been permitted to remain all summer--and a broad-seated lounge with squeaky springs, but quite roomy and comfortable, which monopolized a large portion of the room.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The furniture consisted of a deal table with a folding leaf, a chair, a stove--which, perhaps because it was so small, had been permitted to remain all summer--and a broad-seated lounge with squeaky springs, but quite roomy and comfortable, which monopolized a large portion of the room.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DAGUERROTYPE.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were on the second floor of the house, and attainable through two turns in the lower entry, a winding flight of narrow stairs, and an uncertain, darkly erratic route above.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading They were on the second floor of the house, and attainable through two turns in the lower entry, a winding flight of narrow stairs, and an uncertain, darkly erratic route above.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The study was some twelve feet by eight; the floor ornamented by a carpet which, to judge from the size of the pattern, must have been designed to grace some fifty-foot drawing-room.
turns
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were on the second floor of the house, and attainable through two turns in the lower entry, a winding flight of narrow stairs, and an uncertain, darkly erratic route above.
twelve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The study was some twelve feet by eight; the floor ornamented by a carpet which, to judge from the size of the pattern, must have been designed to grace some fifty-foot drawing-room.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bressant occupied two adjoining rooms at Abbie's boarding-house; one contained his bed and the other was fitted up as his study.
uncertain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were on the second floor of the house, and attainable through two turns in the lower entry, a winding flight of narrow stairs, and an uncertain, darkly erratic route above.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bressant occupied two adjoining rooms at Abbie's boarding-house; one contained his bed and the other was fitted up as his study.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Bressant occupied two adjoining rooms at Abbie's boarding-house; one contained his bed and the other was fitted up as his study.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were on the second floor of the house, and attainable through two turns in the lower entry, a winding flight of narrow stairs, and an uncertain, darkly erratic route above.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The study was some twelve feet by eight; the floor ornamented by a carpet which, to judge from the size of the pattern, must have been designed to grace some fifty-foot drawing-room.
winding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were on the second floor of the house, and attainable through two turns in the lower entry, a winding flight of narrow stairs, and an uncertain, darkly erratic route above.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The furniture consisted of a deal table with a folding leaf, a chair, a stove--which, perhaps because it was so small, had been permitted to remain all summer--and a broad-seated lounge with squeaky springs, but quite roomy and comfortable, which monopolized a large portion of the room.
