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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 Both branches of the stairs ran up to a common landing, and in the wall facing him, midway between the two stairheads, was a great door of tulip wood.
account
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There could be only one piece of news which would make his haste or tardiness matters of no account.
AndeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An usher stood by the door, and at Wogan's approach opened it.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But his face was pale beneath its sunburn, and his hand trembled on the balustrade; for he knew--in his heart he knew.
approach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An usher stood by the door, and at Wogan's approach opened it.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading An usher stood by the door, and at Wogan's approach opened it.
bad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wogan mounted the stairs, not daring to speculate upon the nature of the bad news.
balustrade
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But his face was pale beneath its sunburn, and his hand trembled on the balustrade; for he knew--in his heart he knew.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There could be only one piece of news which would make his haste or tardiness matters of no account.
beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading But his face was pale beneath its sunburn, and his hand trembled on the balustrade; for he knew--in his heart he knew.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Both branches of the stairs ran up to a common landing, and in the wall facing him, midway between the two stairheads, was a great door of tulip wood.
BothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading Both branches of the stairs ran up to a common landing, and in the wall facing him, midway between the two stairheads, was a great door of tulip wood.
branches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Both branches of the stairs ran up to a common landing, and in the wall facing him, midway between the two stairheads, was a great door of tulip wood.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But his face was pale beneath its sunburn, and his hand trembled on the balustrade; for he knew--in his heart he knew.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading An usher stood by the door, and at Wogan's approach opened it.
common
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Both branches of the stairs ran up to a common landing, and in the wall facing him, midway between the two stairheads, was a great door of tulip wood.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading There could be only one piece of news which would make his haste or tardiness matters of no account.
daring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wogan mounted the stairs, not daring to speculate upon the nature of the bad news.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Both branches of the stairs ran up to a common landing, and in the wall facing him, midway between the two stairheads, was a great door of tulip wood.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But his face was pale beneath its sunburn, and his hand trembled on the balustrade; for he knew--in his heart he knew.
facing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Both branches of the stairs ran up to a common landing, and in the wall facing him, midway between the two stairheads, was a great door of tulip wood.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But his face was pale beneath its sunburn, and his hand trembled on the balustrade; for he knew--in his heart he knew.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Both branches of the stairs ran up to a common landing, and in the wall facing him, midway between the two stairheads, was a great door of tulip wood.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But his face was pale beneath its sunburn, and his hand trembled on the balustrade; for he knew--in his heart he knew.
haste
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There could be only one piece of news which would make his haste or tardiness matters of no account.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But his face was pale beneath its sunburn, and his hand trembled on the balustrade; for he knew--in his heart he knew.
heart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But his face was pale beneath its sunburn, and his hand trembled on the balustrade; for he knew--in his heart he knew.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Both branches of the stairs ran up to a common landing, and in the wall facing him, midway between the two stairheads, was a great door of tulip wood.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But his face was pale beneath its sunburn, and his hand trembled on the balustrade; for he knew--in his heart he knew.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But his face was pale beneath its sunburn, and his hand trembled on the balustrade; for he knew--in his heart he knew.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading An usher stood by the door, and at Wogan's approach opened it.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading But his face was pale beneath its sunburn, and his hand trembled on the balustrade; for he knew--in his heart he knew.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But his face was pale beneath its sunburn, and his hand trembled on the balustrade; for he knew--in his heart he knew.
landing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Both branches of the stairs ran up to a common landing, and in the wall facing him, midway between the two stairheads, was a great door of tulip wood.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There could be only one piece of news which would make his haste or tardiness matters of no account.
matters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There could be only one piece of news which would make his haste or tardiness matters of no account.
midway
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Both branches of the stairs ran up to a common landing, and in the wall facing him, midway between the two stairheads, was a great door of tulip wood.
mounted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wogan mounted the stairs, not daring to speculate upon the nature of the bad news.
nature
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wogan mounted the stairs, not daring to speculate upon the nature of the bad news.
news
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wogan mounted the stairs, not daring to speculate upon the nature of the bad news.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading There could be only one piece of news which would make his haste or tardiness matters of no account.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Wogan mounted the stairs, not daring to speculate upon the nature of the bad news.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Wogan mounted the stairs, not daring to speculate upon the nature of the bad news.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But his face was pale beneath its sunburn, and his hand trembled on the balustrade; for he knew--in his heart he knew.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There could be only one piece of news which would make his haste or tardiness matters of no account.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There could be only one piece of news which would make his haste or tardiness matters of no account.
opened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An usher stood by the door, and at Wogan's approach opened it.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading There could be only one piece of news which would make his haste or tardiness matters of no account.
pale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But his face was pale beneath its sunburn, and his hand trembled on the balustrade; for he knew--in his heart he knew.
piece
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There could be only one piece of news which would make his haste or tardiness matters of no account.
ran
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Both branches of the stairs ran up to a common landing, and in the wall facing him, midway between the two stairheads, was a great door of tulip wood.
speculate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wogan mounted the stairs, not daring to speculate upon the nature of the bad news.
stairheads
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Both branches of the stairs ran up to a common landing, and in the wall facing him, midway between the two stairheads, was a great door of tulip wood.
stairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wogan mounted the stairs, not daring to speculate upon the nature of the bad news.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading An usher stood by the door, and at Wogan's approach opened it.
sunburn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But his face was pale beneath its sunburn, and his hand trembled on the balustrade; for he knew--in his heart he knew.
tardiness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There could be only one piece of news which would make his haste or tardiness matters of no account.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Wogan mounted the stairs, not daring to speculate upon the nature of the bad news.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There could be only one piece of news which would make his haste or tardiness matters of no account.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Wogan mounted the stairs, not daring to speculate upon the nature of the bad news.
trembled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But his face was pale beneath its sunburn, and his hand trembled on the balustrade; for he knew--in his heart he knew.
tulip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Both branches of the stairs ran up to a common landing, and in the wall facing him, midway between the two stairheads, was a great door of tulip wood.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Both branches of the stairs ran up to a common landing, and in the wall facing him, midway between the two stairheads, was a great door of tulip wood.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Both branches of the stairs ran up to a common landing, and in the wall facing him, midway between the two stairheads, was a great door of tulip wood.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Wogan mounted the stairs, not daring to speculate upon the nature of the bad news.
usher
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An usher stood by the door, and at Wogan's approach opened it.
wall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Both branches of the stairs ran up to a common landing, and in the wall facing him, midway between the two stairheads, was a great door of tulip wood.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But his face was pale beneath its sunburn, and his hand trembled on the balustrade; for he knew--in his heart he knew.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There could be only one piece of news which would make his haste or tardiness matters of no account.
Wogan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wogan mounted the stairs, not daring to speculate upon the nature of the bad news.
Wogan's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An usher stood by the door, and at Wogan's approach opened it.
wood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Both branches of the stairs ran up to a common landing, and in the wall facing him, midway between the two stairheads, was a great door of tulip wood.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading There could be only one piece of news which would make his haste or tardiness matters of no account.
