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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 DRIVE WITH SWITHIN Two lines of a certain song in a certain famous old school's songbook run as follows:
Adolf
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From this reading The afternoon was as balmy as a day in June, and to complete the simile of the old song, he had put on a blue frock-coat, dispensing with an overcoat, after sending Adolf down three times to make sure that there was not the least suspicion of east in the wind; and the frock-coat was buttoned so tightly around his personable form, that, if the buttons did not shine, they might pardonably have done so.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The afternoon was as balmy as a day in June, and to complete the simile of the old song, he had put on a blue frock-coat, dispensing with an overcoat, after sending Adolf down three times to make sure that there was not the least suspicion of east in the wind; and the frock-coat was buttoned so tightly around his personable form, that, if the buttons did not shine, they might pardonably have done so.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The afternoon was as balmy as a day in June, and to complete the simile of the old song, he had put on a blue frock-coat, dispensing with an overcoat, after sending Adolf down three times to make sure that there was not the least suspicion of east in the wind; and the frock-coat was buttoned so tightly around his personable form, that, if the buttons did not shine, they might pardonably have done so.
almost
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From this reading Swithin did not exactly carol and sing like a bird, but he felt almost like endeavouring to hum a tune, as he stepped out of Hyde Park Mansions, and contemplated his horses drawn up before the door.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The afternoon was as balmy as a day in June, and to complete the simile of the old song, he had put on a blue frock-coat, dispensing with an overcoat, after sending Adolf down three times to make sure that there was not the least suspicion of east in the wind; and the frock-coat was buttoned so tightly around his personable form, that, if the buttons did not shine, they might pardonably have done so.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading How he carolled and he sang, like a bird!....'
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The afternoon was as balmy as a day in June, and to complete the simile of the old song, he had put on a blue frock-coat, dispensing with an overcoat, after sending Adolf down three times to make sure that there was not the least suspicion of east in the wind; and the frock-coat was buttoned so tightly around his personable form, that, if the buttons did not shine, they might pardonably have done so.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading DRIVE WITH SWITHIN Two lines of a certain song in a certain famous old school's songbook run as follows:
balmy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The afternoon was as balmy as a day in June, and to complete the simile of the old song, he had put on a blue frock-coat, dispensing with an overcoat, after sending Adolf down three times to make sure that there was not the least suspicion of east in the wind; and the frock-coat was buttoned so tightly around his personable form, that, if the buttons did not shine, they might pardonably have done so.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Swithin did not exactly carol and sing like a bird, but he felt almost like endeavouring to hum a tune, as he stepped out of Hyde Park Mansions, and contemplated his horses drawn up before the door.
bird
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From this reading How he carolled and he sang, like a bird!....'
blue
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From this reading 'How the buttons on his blue frock shone, tra-la-la!
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Swithin did not exactly carol and sing like a bird, but he felt almost like endeavouring to hum a tune, as he stepped out of Hyde Park Mansions, and contemplated his horses drawn up before the door.
buttoned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The afternoon was as balmy as a day in June, and to complete the simile of the old song, he had put on a blue frock-coat, dispensing with an overcoat, after sending Adolf down three times to make sure that there was not the least suspicion of east in the wind; and the frock-coat was buttoned so tightly around his personable form, that, if the buttons did not shine, they might pardonably have done so.
buttons
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From this reading 'How the buttons on his blue frock shone, tra-la-la!
carol
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From this reading Swithin did not exactly carol and sing like a bird, but he felt almost like endeavouring to hum a tune, as he stepped out of Hyde Park Mansions, and contemplated his horses drawn up before the door.
carolled
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From this reading How he carolled and he sang, like a bird!....'
certain
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From this reading DRIVE WITH SWITHIN Two lines of a certain song in a certain famous old school's songbook run as follows:
completenounUS /complete/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The afternoon was as balmy as a day in June, and to complete the simile of the old song, he had put on a blue frock-coat, dispensing with an overcoat, after sending Adolf down three times to make sure that there was not the least suspicion of east in the wind; and the frock-coat was buttoned so tightly around his personable form, that, if the buttons did not shine, they might pardonably have done so.
contemplated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Swithin did not exactly carol and sing like a bird, but he felt almost like endeavouring to hum a tune, as he stepped out of Hyde Park Mansions, and contemplated his horses drawn up before the door.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The afternoon was as balmy as a day in June, and to complete the simile of the old song, he had put on a blue frock-coat, dispensing with an overcoat, after sending Adolf down three times to make sure that there was not the least suspicion of east in the wind; and the frock-coat was buttoned so tightly around his personable form, that, if the buttons did not shine, they might pardonably have done so.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Swithin did not exactly carol and sing like a bird, but he felt almost like endeavouring to hum a tune, as he stepped out of Hyde Park Mansions, and contemplated his horses drawn up before the door.
dispensing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The afternoon was as balmy as a day in June, and to complete the simile of the old song, he had put on a blue frock-coat, dispensing with an overcoat, after sending Adolf down three times to make sure that there was not the least suspicion of east in the wind; and the frock-coat was buttoned so tightly around his personable form, that, if the buttons did not shine, they might pardonably have done so.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The afternoon was as balmy as a day in June, and to complete the simile of the old song, he had put on a blue frock-coat, dispensing with an overcoat, after sending Adolf down three times to make sure that there was not the least suspicion of east in the wind; and the frock-coat was buttoned so tightly around his personable form, that, if the buttons did not shine, they might pardonably have done so.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Swithin did not exactly carol and sing like a bird, but he felt almost like endeavouring to hum a tune, as he stepped out of Hyde Park Mansions, and contemplated his horses drawn up before the door.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The afternoon was as balmy as a day in June, and to complete the simile of the old song, he had put on a blue frock-coat, dispensing with an overcoat, after sending Adolf down three times to make sure that there was not the least suspicion of east in the wind; and the frock-coat was buttoned so tightly around his personable form, that, if the buttons did not shine, they might pardonably have done so.
drawn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Swithin did not exactly carol and sing like a bird, but he felt almost like endeavouring to hum a tune, as he stepped out of Hyde Park Mansions, and contemplated his horses drawn up before the door.
DRIVE
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From this reading DRIVE WITH SWITHIN Two lines of a certain song in a certain famous old school's songbook run as follows:
east
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From this reading The afternoon was as balmy as a day in June, and to complete the simile of the old song, he had put on a blue frock-coat, dispensing with an overcoat, after sending Adolf down three times to make sure that there was not the least suspicion of east in the wind; and the frock-coat was buttoned so tightly around his personable form, that, if the buttons did not shine, they might pardonably have done so.
endeavouring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Swithin did not exactly carol and sing like a bird, but he felt almost like endeavouring to hum a tune, as he stepped out of Hyde Park Mansions, and contemplated his horses drawn up before the door.
exactly
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From this reading Swithin did not exactly carol and sing like a bird, but he felt almost like endeavouring to hum a tune, as he stepped out of Hyde Park Mansions, and contemplated his horses drawn up before the door.
famous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DRIVE WITH SWITHIN Two lines of a certain song in a certain famous old school's songbook run as follows:
felt
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From this reading Swithin did not exactly carol and sing like a bird, but he felt almost like endeavouring to hum a tune, as he stepped out of Hyde Park Mansions, and contemplated his horses drawn up before the door.
follows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DRIVE WITH SWITHIN Two lines of a certain song in a certain famous old school's songbook run as follows:
form
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From this reading The afternoon was as balmy as a day in June, and to complete the simile of the old song, he had put on a blue frock-coat, dispensing with an overcoat, after sending Adolf down three times to make sure that there was not the least suspicion of east in the wind; and the frock-coat was buttoned so tightly around his personable form, that, if the buttons did not shine, they might pardonably have done so.
frock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'How the buttons on his blue frock shone, tra-la-la!
frock-coat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The afternoon was as balmy as a day in June, and to complete the simile of the old song, he had put on a blue frock-coat, dispensing with an overcoat, after sending Adolf down three times to make sure that there was not the least suspicion of east in the wind; and the frock-coat was buttoned so tightly around his personable form, that, if the buttons did not shine, they might pardonably have done so.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The afternoon was as balmy as a day in June, and to complete the simile of the old song, he had put on a blue frock-coat, dispensing with an overcoat, after sending Adolf down three times to make sure that there was not the least suspicion of east in the wind; and the frock-coat was buttoned so tightly around his personable form, that, if the buttons did not shine, they might pardonably have done so.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The afternoon was as balmy as a day in June, and to complete the simile of the old song, he had put on a blue frock-coat, dispensing with an overcoat, after sending Adolf down three times to make sure that there was not the least suspicion of east in the wind; and the frock-coat was buttoned so tightly around his personable form, that, if the buttons did not shine, they might pardonably have done so.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading How he carolled and he sang, like a bird!....'
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading 'How the buttons on his blue frock shone, tra-la-la!
horses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Swithin did not exactly carol and sing like a bird, but he felt almost like endeavouring to hum a tune, as he stepped out of Hyde Park Mansions, and contemplated his horses drawn up before the door.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'How the buttons on his blue frock shone, tra-la-la!
hum
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Swithin did not exactly carol and sing like a bird, but he felt almost like endeavouring to hum a tune, as he stepped out of Hyde Park Mansions, and contemplated his horses drawn up before the door.
Hyde
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Swithin did not exactly carol and sing like a bird, but he felt almost like endeavouring to hum a tune, as he stepped out of Hyde Park Mansions, and contemplated his horses drawn up before the door.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The afternoon was as balmy as a day in June, and to complete the simile of the old song, he had put on a blue frock-coat, dispensing with an overcoat, after sending Adolf down three times to make sure that there was not the least suspicion of east in the wind; and the frock-coat was buttoned so tightly around his personable form, that, if the buttons did not shine, they might pardonably have done so.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading DRIVE WITH SWITHIN Two lines of a certain song in a certain famous old school's songbook run as follows:
June
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The afternoon was as balmy as a day in June, and to complete the simile of the old song, he had put on a blue frock-coat, dispensing with an overcoat, after sending Adolf down three times to make sure that there was not the least suspicion of east in the wind; and the frock-coat was buttoned so tightly around his personable form, that, if the buttons did not shine, they might pardonably have done so.
leastnounUS /least/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The afternoon was as balmy as a day in June, and to complete the simile of the old song, he had put on a blue frock-coat, dispensing with an overcoat, after sending Adolf down three times to make sure that there was not the least suspicion of east in the wind; and the frock-coat was buttoned so tightly around his personable form, that, if the buttons did not shine, they might pardonably have done so.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How he carolled and he sang, like a bird!....'
lines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DRIVE WITH SWITHIN Two lines of a certain song in a certain famous old school's songbook run as follows:
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The afternoon was as balmy as a day in June, and to complete the simile of the old song, he had put on a blue frock-coat, dispensing with an overcoat, after sending Adolf down three times to make sure that there was not the least suspicion of east in the wind; and the frock-coat was buttoned so tightly around his personable form, that, if the buttons did not shine, they might pardonably have done so.
Mansions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Swithin did not exactly carol and sing like a bird, but he felt almost like endeavouring to hum a tune, as he stepped out of Hyde Park Mansions, and contemplated his horses drawn up before the door.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The afternoon was as balmy as a day in June, and to complete the simile of the old song, he had put on a blue frock-coat, dispensing with an overcoat, after sending Adolf down three times to make sure that there was not the least suspicion of east in the wind; and the frock-coat was buttoned so tightly around his personable form, that, if the buttons did not shine, they might pardonably have done so.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Swithin did not exactly carol and sing like a bird, but he felt almost like endeavouring to hum a tune, as he stepped out of Hyde Park Mansions, and contemplated his horses drawn up before the door.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading DRIVE WITH SWITHIN Two lines of a certain song in a certain famous old school's songbook run as follows:
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DRIVE WITH SWITHIN Two lines of a certain song in a certain famous old school's songbook run as follows:
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading 'How the buttons on his blue frock shone, tra-la-la!
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Swithin did not exactly carol and sing like a bird, but he felt almost like endeavouring to hum a tune, as he stepped out of Hyde Park Mansions, and contemplated his horses drawn up before the door.
overcoat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The afternoon was as balmy as a day in June, and to complete the simile of the old song, he had put on a blue frock-coat, dispensing with an overcoat, after sending Adolf down three times to make sure that there was not the least suspicion of east in the wind; and the frock-coat was buttoned so tightly around his personable form, that, if the buttons did not shine, they might pardonably have done so.
pardonably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The afternoon was as balmy as a day in June, and to complete the simile of the old song, he had put on a blue frock-coat, dispensing with an overcoat, after sending Adolf down three times to make sure that there was not the least suspicion of east in the wind; and the frock-coat was buttoned so tightly around his personable form, that, if the buttons did not shine, they might pardonably have done so.
Park
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Swithin did not exactly carol and sing like a bird, but he felt almost like endeavouring to hum a tune, as he stepped out of Hyde Park Mansions, and contemplated his horses drawn up before the door.
personable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The afternoon was as balmy as a day in June, and to complete the simile of the old song, he had put on a blue frock-coat, dispensing with an overcoat, after sending Adolf down three times to make sure that there was not the least suspicion of east in the wind; and the frock-coat was buttoned so tightly around his personable form, that, if the buttons did not shine, they might pardonably have done so.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The afternoon was as balmy as a day in June, and to complete the simile of the old song, he had put on a blue frock-coat, dispensing with an overcoat, after sending Adolf down three times to make sure that there was not the least suspicion of east in the wind; and the frock-coat was buttoned so tightly around his personable form, that, if the buttons did not shine, they might pardonably have done so.
run
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DRIVE WITH SWITHIN Two lines of a certain song in a certain famous old school's songbook run as follows:
sang
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How he carolled and he sang, like a bird!....'
school's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DRIVE WITH SWITHIN Two lines of a certain song in a certain famous old school's songbook run as follows:
sending
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The afternoon was as balmy as a day in June, and to complete the simile of the old song, he had put on a blue frock-coat, dispensing with an overcoat, after sending Adolf down three times to make sure that there was not the least suspicion of east in the wind; and the frock-coat was buttoned so tightly around his personable form, that, if the buttons did not shine, they might pardonably have done so.
shine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The afternoon was as balmy as a day in June, and to complete the simile of the old song, he had put on a blue frock-coat, dispensing with an overcoat, after sending Adolf down three times to make sure that there was not the least suspicion of east in the wind; and the frock-coat was buttoned so tightly around his personable form, that, if the buttons did not shine, they might pardonably have done so.
shone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'How the buttons on his blue frock shone, tra-la-la!
simile
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From this reading The afternoon was as balmy as a day in June, and to complete the simile of the old song, he had put on a blue frock-coat, dispensing with an overcoat, after sending Adolf down three times to make sure that there was not the least suspicion of east in the wind; and the frock-coat was buttoned so tightly around his personable form, that, if the buttons did not shine, they might pardonably have done so.
sing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Swithin did not exactly carol and sing like a bird, but he felt almost like endeavouring to hum a tune, as he stepped out of Hyde Park Mansions, and contemplated his horses drawn up before the door.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The afternoon was as balmy as a day in June, and to complete the simile of the old song, he had put on a blue frock-coat, dispensing with an overcoat, after sending Adolf down three times to make sure that there was not the least suspicion of east in the wind; and the frock-coat was buttoned so tightly around his personable form, that, if the buttons did not shine, they might pardonably have done so.
song
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DRIVE WITH SWITHIN Two lines of a certain song in a certain famous old school's songbook run as follows:
songbook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DRIVE WITH SWITHIN Two lines of a certain song in a certain famous old school's songbook run as follows:
stepped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Swithin did not exactly carol and sing like a bird, but he felt almost like endeavouring to hum a tune, as he stepped out of Hyde Park Mansions, and contemplated his horses drawn up before the door.
surenounUS /sure/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The afternoon was as balmy as a day in June, and to complete the simile of the old song, he had put on a blue frock-coat, dispensing with an overcoat, after sending Adolf down three times to make sure that there was not the least suspicion of east in the wind; and the frock-coat was buttoned so tightly around his personable form, that, if the buttons did not shine, they might pardonably have done so.
suspicion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The afternoon was as balmy as a day in June, and to complete the simile of the old song, he had put on a blue frock-coat, dispensing with an overcoat, after sending Adolf down three times to make sure that there was not the least suspicion of east in the wind; and the frock-coat was buttoned so tightly around his personable form, that, if the buttons did not shine, they might pardonably have done so.
SWITHIN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DRIVE WITH SWITHIN Two lines of a certain song in a certain famous old school's songbook run as follows:
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The afternoon was as balmy as a day in June, and to complete the simile of the old song, he had put on a blue frock-coat, dispensing with an overcoat, after sending Adolf down three times to make sure that there was not the least suspicion of east in the wind; and the frock-coat was buttoned so tightly around his personable form, that, if the buttons did not shine, they might pardonably have done so.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading 'How the buttons on his blue frock shone, tra-la-la!
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The afternoon was as balmy as a day in June, and to complete the simile of the old song, he had put on a blue frock-coat, dispensing with an overcoat, after sending Adolf down three times to make sure that there was not the least suspicion of east in the wind; and the frock-coat was buttoned so tightly around his personable form, that, if the buttons did not shine, they might pardonably have done so.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The afternoon was as balmy as a day in June, and to complete the simile of the old song, he had put on a blue frock-coat, dispensing with an overcoat, after sending Adolf down three times to make sure that there was not the least suspicion of east in the wind; and the frock-coat was buttoned so tightly around his personable form, that, if the buttons did not shine, they might pardonably have done so.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The afternoon was as balmy as a day in June, and to complete the simile of the old song, he had put on a blue frock-coat, dispensing with an overcoat, after sending Adolf down three times to make sure that there was not the least suspicion of east in the wind; and the frock-coat was buttoned so tightly around his personable form, that, if the buttons did not shine, they might pardonably have done so.
tightly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The afternoon was as balmy as a day in June, and to complete the simile of the old song, he had put on a blue frock-coat, dispensing with an overcoat, after sending Adolf down three times to make sure that there was not the least suspicion of east in the wind; and the frock-coat was buttoned so tightly around his personable form, that, if the buttons did not shine, they might pardonably have done so.
times
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The afternoon was as balmy as a day in June, and to complete the simile of the old song, he had put on a blue frock-coat, dispensing with an overcoat, after sending Adolf down three times to make sure that there was not the least suspicion of east in the wind; and the frock-coat was buttoned so tightly around his personable form, that, if the buttons did not shine, they might pardonably have done so.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Swithin did not exactly carol and sing like a bird, but he felt almost like endeavouring to hum a tune, as he stepped out of Hyde Park Mansions, and contemplated his horses drawn up before the door.
tra-la-la
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From this reading 'How the buttons on his blue frock shone, tra-la-la!
tune
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Swithin did not exactly carol and sing like a bird, but he felt almost like endeavouring to hum a tune, as he stepped out of Hyde Park Mansions, and contemplated his horses drawn up before the door.
Two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DRIVE WITH SWITHIN Two lines of a certain song in a certain famous old school's songbook run as follows:
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Swithin did not exactly carol and sing like a bird, but he felt almost like endeavouring to hum a tune, as he stepped out of Hyde Park Mansions, and contemplated his horses drawn up before the door.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The afternoon was as balmy as a day in June, and to complete the simile of the old song, he had put on a blue frock-coat, dispensing with an overcoat, after sending Adolf down three times to make sure that there was not the least suspicion of east in the wind; and the frock-coat was buttoned so tightly around his personable form, that, if the buttons did not shine, they might pardonably have done so.
windnounUS /wind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The afternoon was as balmy as a day in June, and to complete the simile of the old song, he had put on a blue frock-coat, dispensing with an overcoat, after sending Adolf down three times to make sure that there was not the least suspicion of east in the wind; and the frock-coat was buttoned so tightly around his personable form, that, if the buttons did not shine, they might pardonably have done so.
WITHprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading DRIVE WITH SWITHIN Two lines of a certain song in a certain famous old school's songbook run as follows: