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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 For the last eight days it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn sowing, had become a dead white, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.
accompany
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From this reading He seated himself before the kitchen table and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.
alreadynounUS /already/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For the last eight days it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn sowing, had become a dead white, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the mayor's office, but it was too early.
attired
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From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the mayor's office, but it was too early.
autumn
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From this reading For the last eight days it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn sowing, had become a dead white, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.
become
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the last eight days it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn sowing, had become a dead white, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For the last eight days it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn sowing, had become a dead white, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He seated himself before the kitchen table and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading It was simple, the bridal pair not being rich.
betrothed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the mayor's office, but it was too early.
bridal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was simple, the bridal pair not being rich.
bring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the mayor's office, but it was too early.
brown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the last eight days it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn sowing, had become a dead white, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the mayor's office, but it was too early.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading For the last eight days it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn sowing, had become a dead white, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.
Cesaire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the mayor's office, but it was too early.
clothes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the mayor's office, but it was too early.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the last eight days it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn sowing, had become a dead white, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.
deadnounUS /dead/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For the last eight days it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn sowing, had become a dead white, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.
December
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The wedding took place in the middle of December.
early
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the mayor's office, but it was too early.
earth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the last eight days it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn sowing, had become a dead white, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.
eight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the mayor's office, but it was too early.
family
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seated himself before the kitchen table and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.
fertilized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the last eight days it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn sowing, had become a dead white, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.
fetch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the mayor's office, but it was too early.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He seated himself before the kitchen table and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.
friends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seated himself before the kitchen table and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the mayor's office, but it was too early.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For the last eight days it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn sowing, had become a dead white, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For the last eight days it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn sowing, had become a dead white, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He seated himself before the kitchen table and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the mayor's office, but it was too early.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He seated himself before the kitchen table and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He seated himself before the kitchen table and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the mayor's office, but it was too early.
ice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the last eight days it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn sowing, had become a dead white, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The wedding took place in the middle of December.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was simple, the bridal pair not being rich.
kitchen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seated himself before the kitchen table and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For the last eight days it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn sowing, had become a dead white, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.
mayor's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the mayor's office, but it was too early.
members
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seated himself before the kitchen table and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.
middle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The wedding took place in the middle of December.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the mayor's office, but it was too early.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the mayor's office, but it was too early.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was simple, the bridal pair not being rich.
o'clock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the mayor's office, but it was too early.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The wedding took place in the middle of December.
office
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the mayor's office, but it was too early.
pair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was simple, the bridal pair not being rich.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The wedding took place in the middle of December.
ready
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the mayor's office, but it was too early.
rich
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was simple, the bridal pair not being rich.
seated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seated himself before the kitchen table and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.
sheet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the last eight days it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn sowing, had become a dead white, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.
simple
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was simple, the bridal pair not being rich.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the mayor's office, but it was too early.
sleeping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the last eight days it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn sowing, had become a dead white, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.
snowing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the last eight days it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn sowing, had become a dead white, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.
sowing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the last eight days it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn sowing, had become a dead white, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seated himself before the kitchen table and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The wedding took place in the middle of December.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the mayor's office, but it was too early.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cesaire, attired in new clothes, was ready since eight o'clock in the morning to go and fetch his betrothed and bring her to the mayor's office, but it was too early.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The wedding took place in the middle of December.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading For the last eight days it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn sowing, had become a dead white, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.
waited
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He seated himself before the kitchen table and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was simple, the bridal pair not being rich.
wedding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The wedding took place in the middle of December.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He seated himself before the kitchen table and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the last eight days it had been snowing, and the brown earth, the earth already fertilized by the autumn sowing, had become a dead white, sleeping under a great sheet of ice.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading He seated himself before the kitchen table and waited for the members of the family and the friends who were to accompany him.
