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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 This was why Ford, walking the few blocks from his hotel at noon to keep his engagement with North, found the general manager's private office closed, and a suave, soft-spoken young man with a foreign east of countenance waiting to make his superior's excuses.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Now Ford's attitude toward his opponents was, by reason of his gifts, openly belligerent; wherefore he fought against it and tried to be as other men are.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading This was why Ford, walking the few blocks from his hotel at noon to keep his engagement with North, found the general manager's private office closed, and a suave, soft-spoken young man with a foreign east of countenance waiting to make his superior's excuses.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Now Ford's attitude toward his opponents was, by reason of his gifts, openly belligerent; wherefore he fought against it and tried to be as other men are.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He left me to explain, and I've been wondering if you'd let me take his place as your host, Mr. Ford."
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading This was why Ford, walking the few blocks from his hotel at noon to keep his engagement with North, found the general manager's private office closed, and a suave, soft-spoken young man with a foreign east of countenance waiting to make his superior's excuses.
attitude
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now Ford's attitude toward his opponents was, by reason of his gifts, openly belligerent; wherefore he fought against it and tried to be as other men are.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Now Ford's attitude toward his opponents was, by reason of his gifts, openly belligerent; wherefore he fought against it and tried to be as other men are.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He left me to explain, and I've been wondering if you'd let me take his place as your host, Mr. Ford."
belligerent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now Ford's attitude toward his opponents was, by reason of his gifts, openly belligerent; wherefore he fought against it and tried to be as other men are.
blocks
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From this reading This was why Ford, walking the few blocks from his hotel at noon to keep his engagement with North, found the general manager's private office closed, and a suave, soft-spoken young man with a foreign east of countenance waiting to make his superior's excuses.
Brown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "He tried to telephone you at the Brown, but the operator couldn't find you.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "He tried to telephone you at the Brown, but the operator couldn't find you.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Now Ford's attitude toward his opponents was, by reason of his gifts, openly belligerent; wherefore he fought against it and tried to be as other men are.
called
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Mr. North was called out of town quite unexpectedly on a wire," was the private secretary's explanation.
closed
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From this reading This was why Ford, walking the few blocks from his hotel at noon to keep his engagement with North, found the general manager's private office closed, and a suave, soft-spoken young man with a foreign east of countenance waiting to make his superior's excuses.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "He tried to telephone you at the Brown, but the operator couldn't find you.
countenance
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From this reading This was why Ford, walking the few blocks from his hotel at noon to keep his engagement with North, found the general manager's private office closed, and a suave, soft-spoken young man with a foreign east of countenance waiting to make his superior's excuses.
east
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From this reading This was why Ford, walking the few blocks from his hotel at noon to keep his engagement with North, found the general manager's private office closed, and a suave, soft-spoken young man with a foreign east of countenance waiting to make his superior's excuses.
engagement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was why Ford, walking the few blocks from his hotel at noon to keep his engagement with North, found the general manager's private office closed, and a suave, soft-spoken young man with a foreign east of countenance waiting to make his superior's excuses.
excuses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was why Ford, walking the few blocks from his hotel at noon to keep his engagement with North, found the general manager's private office closed, and a suave, soft-spoken young man with a foreign east of countenance waiting to make his superior's excuses.
explain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He left me to explain, and I've been wondering if you'd let me take his place as your host, Mr. Ford."
explanation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Mr. North was called out of town quite unexpectedly on a wire," was the private secretary's explanation.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was why Ford, walking the few blocks from his hotel at noon to keep his engagement with North, found the general manager's private office closed, and a suave, soft-spoken young man with a foreign east of countenance waiting to make his superior's excuses.
find
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "He tried to telephone you at the Brown, but the operator couldn't find you.
Ford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was why Ford, walking the few blocks from his hotel at noon to keep his engagement with North, found the general manager's private office closed, and a suave, soft-spoken young man with a foreign east of countenance waiting to make his superior's excuses.
Ford's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now Ford's attitude toward his opponents was, by reason of his gifts, openly belligerent; wherefore he fought against it and tried to be as other men are.
foreign
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was why Ford, walking the few blocks from his hotel at noon to keep his engagement with North, found the general manager's private office closed, and a suave, soft-spoken young man with a foreign east of countenance waiting to make his superior's excuses.
fought
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now Ford's attitude toward his opponents was, by reason of his gifts, openly belligerent; wherefore he fought against it and tried to be as other men are.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This was why Ford, walking the few blocks from his hotel at noon to keep his engagement with North, found the general manager's private office closed, and a suave, soft-spoken young man with a foreign east of countenance waiting to make his superior's excuses.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading This was why Ford, walking the few blocks from his hotel at noon to keep his engagement with North, found the general manager's private office closed, and a suave, soft-spoken young man with a foreign east of countenance waiting to make his superior's excuses.
general
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was why Ford, walking the few blocks from his hotel at noon to keep his engagement with North, found the general manager's private office closed, and a suave, soft-spoken young man with a foreign east of countenance waiting to make his superior's excuses.
gifts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now Ford's attitude toward his opponents was, by reason of his gifts, openly belligerent; wherefore he fought against it and tried to be as other men are.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "He tried to telephone you at the Brown, but the operator couldn't find you.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading This was why Ford, walking the few blocks from his hotel at noon to keep his engagement with North, found the general manager's private office closed, and a suave, soft-spoken young man with a foreign east of countenance waiting to make his superior's excuses.
host
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He left me to explain, and I've been wondering if you'd let me take his place as your host, Mr. Ford."
hotel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was why Ford, walking the few blocks from his hotel at noon to keep his engagement with North, found the general manager's private office closed, and a suave, soft-spoken young man with a foreign east of countenance waiting to make his superior's excuses.
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He left me to explain, and I've been wondering if you'd let me take his place as your host, Mr. Ford."
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He left me to explain, and I've been wondering if you'd let me take his place as your host, Mr. Ford."
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Now Ford's attitude toward his opponents was, by reason of his gifts, openly belligerent; wherefore he fought against it and tried to be as other men are.
keep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was why Ford, walking the few blocks from his hotel at noon to keep his engagement with North, found the general manager's private office closed, and a suave, soft-spoken young man with a foreign east of countenance waiting to make his superior's excuses.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He left me to explain, and I've been wondering if you'd let me take his place as your host, Mr. Ford."
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading He left me to explain, and I've been wondering if you'd let me take his place as your host, Mr. Ford."
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This was why Ford, walking the few blocks from his hotel at noon to keep his engagement with North, found the general manager's private office closed, and a suave, soft-spoken young man with a foreign east of countenance waiting to make his superior's excuses.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was why Ford, walking the few blocks from his hotel at noon to keep his engagement with North, found the general manager's private office closed, and a suave, soft-spoken young man with a foreign east of countenance waiting to make his superior's excuses.
manager's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was why Ford, walking the few blocks from his hotel at noon to keep his engagement with North, found the general manager's private office closed, and a suave, soft-spoken young man with a foreign east of countenance waiting to make his superior's excuses.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He left me to explain, and I've been wondering if you'd let me take his place as your host, Mr. Ford."
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now Ford's attitude toward his opponents was, by reason of his gifts, openly belligerent; wherefore he fought against it and tried to be as other men are.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Mr. North was called out of town quite unexpectedly on a wire," was the private secretary's explanation.
noon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was why Ford, walking the few blocks from his hotel at noon to keep his engagement with North, found the general manager's private office closed, and a suave, soft-spoken young man with a foreign east of countenance waiting to make his superior's excuses.
North
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was why Ford, walking the few blocks from his hotel at noon to keep his engagement with North, found the general manager's private office closed, and a suave, soft-spoken young man with a foreign east of countenance waiting to make his superior's excuses.
Now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now Ford's attitude toward his opponents was, by reason of his gifts, openly belligerent; wherefore he fought against it and tried to be as other men are.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading This was why Ford, walking the few blocks from his hotel at noon to keep his engagement with North, found the general manager's private office closed, and a suave, soft-spoken young man with a foreign east of countenance waiting to make his superior's excuses.
office
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was why Ford, walking the few blocks from his hotel at noon to keep his engagement with North, found the general manager's private office closed, and a suave, soft-spoken young man with a foreign east of countenance waiting to make his superior's excuses.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "Mr. North was called out of town quite unexpectedly on a wire," was the private secretary's explanation.
openly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now Ford's attitude toward his opponents was, by reason of his gifts, openly belligerent; wherefore he fought against it and tried to be as other men are.
operator
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "He tried to telephone you at the Brown, but the operator couldn't find you.
opponents
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now Ford's attitude toward his opponents was, by reason of his gifts, openly belligerent; wherefore he fought against it and tried to be as other men are.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now Ford's attitude toward his opponents was, by reason of his gifts, openly belligerent; wherefore he fought against it and tried to be as other men are.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Mr. North was called out of town quite unexpectedly on a wire," was the private secretary's explanation.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He left me to explain, and I've been wondering if you'd let me take his place as your host, Mr. Ford."
private
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was why Ford, walking the few blocks from his hotel at noon to keep his engagement with North, found the general manager's private office closed, and a suave, soft-spoken young man with a foreign east of countenance waiting to make his superior's excuses.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Mr. North was called out of town quite unexpectedly on a wire," was the private secretary's explanation.
reason
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now Ford's attitude toward his opponents was, by reason of his gifts, openly belligerent; wherefore he fought against it and tried to be as other men are.
secretary's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Mr. North was called out of town quite unexpectedly on a wire," was the private secretary's explanation.
soft-spoken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was why Ford, walking the few blocks from his hotel at noon to keep his engagement with North, found the general manager's private office closed, and a suave, soft-spoken young man with a foreign east of countenance waiting to make his superior's excuses.
suave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was why Ford, walking the few blocks from his hotel at noon to keep his engagement with North, found the general manager's private office closed, and a suave, soft-spoken young man with a foreign east of countenance waiting to make his superior's excuses.
superior's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was why Ford, walking the few blocks from his hotel at noon to keep his engagement with North, found the general manager's private office closed, and a suave, soft-spoken young man with a foreign east of countenance waiting to make his superior's excuses.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He left me to explain, and I've been wondering if you'd let me take his place as your host, Mr. Ford."
telephone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "He tried to telephone you at the Brown, but the operator couldn't find you.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading This was why Ford, walking the few blocks from his hotel at noon to keep his engagement with North, found the general manager's private office closed, and a suave, soft-spoken young man with a foreign east of countenance waiting to make his superior's excuses.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was why Ford, walking the few blocks from his hotel at noon to keep his engagement with North, found the general manager's private office closed, and a suave, soft-spoken young man with a foreign east of countenance waiting to make his superior's excuses.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading This was why Ford, walking the few blocks from his hotel at noon to keep his engagement with North, found the general manager's private office closed, and a suave, soft-spoken young man with a foreign east of countenance waiting to make his superior's excuses.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Now Ford's attitude toward his opponents was, by reason of his gifts, openly belligerent; wherefore he fought against it and tried to be as other men are.
town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Mr. North was called out of town quite unexpectedly on a wire," was the private secretary's explanation.
tried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "He tried to telephone you at the Brown, but the operator couldn't find you.
unexpectedly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Mr. North was called out of town quite unexpectedly on a wire," was the private secretary's explanation.
waiting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was why Ford, walking the few blocks from his hotel at noon to keep his engagement with North, found the general manager's private office closed, and a suave, soft-spoken young man with a foreign east of countenance waiting to make his superior's excuses.
walking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was why Ford, walking the few blocks from his hotel at noon to keep his engagement with North, found the general manager's private office closed, and a suave, soft-spoken young man with a foreign east of countenance waiting to make his superior's excuses.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was why Ford, walking the few blocks from his hotel at noon to keep his engagement with North, found the general manager's private office closed, and a suave, soft-spoken young man with a foreign east of countenance waiting to make his superior's excuses.
whereforeadverbUS /werˈfɔːr/
an old word meaning “why” or “for that reason”
From this reading Now Ford's attitude toward his opponents was, by reason of his gifts, openly belligerent; wherefore he fought against it and tried to be as other men are.
why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was why Ford, walking the few blocks from his hotel at noon to keep his engagement with North, found the general manager's private office closed, and a suave, soft-spoken young man with a foreign east of countenance waiting to make his superior's excuses.
wire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Mr. North was called out of town quite unexpectedly on a wire," was the private secretary's explanation.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading This was why Ford, walking the few blocks from his hotel at noon to keep his engagement with North, found the general manager's private office closed, and a suave, soft-spoken young man with a foreign east of countenance waiting to make his superior's excuses.
wondering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He left me to explain, and I've been wondering if you'd let me take his place as your host, Mr. Ford."
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "He tried to telephone you at the Brown, but the operator couldn't find you.
you'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He left me to explain, and I've been wondering if you'd let me take his place as your host, Mr. Ford."
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This was why Ford, walking the few blocks from his hotel at noon to keep his engagement with North, found the general manager's private office closed, and a suave, soft-spoken young man with a foreign east of countenance waiting to make his superior's excuses.
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading He left me to explain, and I've been wondering if you'd let me take his place as your host, Mr. Ford."
