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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 I had the story, bit by bit, from various people, and, as generally happens in such cases, each time it was a different story.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading If you know the post-office you must have seen Ethan Frome drive up to it, drop the reins on his hollow-backed bay and drag himself across the brick pavement to the white colonnade; and you must have asked who he was.
ago
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was there that, several years ago, I saw him for the first time; and the sight pulled me up sharp.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I had the story, bit by bit, from various people, and, as generally happens in such cases, each time it was a different story.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I had the story, bit by bit, from various people, and, as generally happens in such cases, each time it was a different story.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If you know the post-office you must have seen Ethan Frome drive up to it, drop the reins on his hollow-backed bay and drag himself across the brick pavement to the white colonnade; and you must have asked who he was.
bay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you know the post-office you must have seen Ethan Frome drive up to it, drop the reins on his hollow-backed bay and drag himself across the brick pavement to the white colonnade; and you must have asked who he was.
bit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had the story, bit by bit, from various people, and, as generally happens in such cases, each time it was a different story.
brick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you know the post-office you must have seen Ethan Frome drive up to it, drop the reins on his hollow-backed bay and drag himself across the brick pavement to the white colonnade; and you must have asked who he was.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Even then he was the most striking figure in Starkfield, though he was but the ruin of a man.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading I had the story, bit by bit, from various people, and, as generally happens in such cases, each time it was a different story.
cases
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had the story, bit by bit, from various people, and, as generally happens in such cases, each time it was a different story.
colonnade
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you know the post-office you must have seen Ethan Frome drive up to it, drop the reins on his hollow-backed bay and drag himself across the brick pavement to the white colonnade; and you must have asked who he was.
differentnounUS /ˈdifferent/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading I had the story, bit by bit, from various people, and, as generally happens in such cases, each time it was a different story.
drag
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you know the post-office you must have seen Ethan Frome drive up to it, drop the reins on his hollow-backed bay and drag himself across the brick pavement to the white colonnade; and you must have asked who he was.
drive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you know the post-office you must have seen Ethan Frome drive up to it, drop the reins on his hollow-backed bay and drag himself across the brick pavement to the white colonnade; and you must have asked who he was.
drop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you know the post-office you must have seen Ethan Frome drive up to it, drop the reins on his hollow-backed bay and drag himself across the brick pavement to the white colonnade; and you must have asked who he was.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading I had the story, bit by bit, from various people, and, as generally happens in such cases, each time it was a different story.
Ethan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you know the post-office you must have seen Ethan Frome drive up to it, drop the reins on his hollow-backed bay and drag himself across the brick pavement to the white colonnade; and you must have asked who he was.
EvennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Even then he was the most striking figure in Starkfield, though he was but the ruin of a man.
figure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even then he was the most striking figure in Starkfield, though he was but the ruin of a man.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was there that, several years ago, I saw him for the first time; and the sight pulled me up sharp.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was there that, several years ago, I saw him for the first time; and the sight pulled me up sharp.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I had the story, bit by bit, from various people, and, as generally happens in such cases, each time it was a different story.
Frome
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you know the post-office you must have seen Ethan Frome drive up to it, drop the reins on his hollow-backed bay and drag himself across the brick pavement to the white colonnade; and you must have asked who he was.
generally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had the story, bit by bit, from various people, and, as generally happens in such cases, each time it was a different story.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had the story, bit by bit, from various people, and, as generally happens in such cases, each time it was a different story.
happens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had the story, bit by bit, from various people, and, as generally happens in such cases, each time it was a different story.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If you know the post-office you must have seen Ethan Frome drive up to it, drop the reins on his hollow-backed bay and drag himself across the brick pavement to the white colonnade; and you must have asked who he was.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If you know the post-office you must have seen Ethan Frome drive up to it, drop the reins on his hollow-backed bay and drag himself across the brick pavement to the white colonnade; and you must have asked who he was.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was there that, several years ago, I saw him for the first time; and the sight pulled me up sharp.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading If you know the post-office you must have seen Ethan Frome drive up to it, drop the reins on his hollow-backed bay and drag himself across the brick pavement to the white colonnade; and you must have asked who he was.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading If you know the post-office you must have seen Ethan Frome drive up to it, drop the reins on his hollow-backed bay and drag himself across the brick pavement to the white colonnade; and you must have asked who he was.
hollow-backed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you know the post-office you must have seen Ethan Frome drive up to it, drop the reins on his hollow-backed bay and drag himself across the brick pavement to the white colonnade; and you must have asked who he was.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I had the story, bit by bit, from various people, and, as generally happens in such cases, each time it was a different story.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If you know Starkfield, Massachusetts, you know the post-office.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I had the story, bit by bit, from various people, and, as generally happens in such cases, each time it was a different story.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I had the story, bit by bit, from various people, and, as generally happens in such cases, each time it was a different story.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If you know Starkfield, Massachusetts, you know the post-office.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even then he was the most striking figure in Starkfield, though he was but the ruin of a man.
Massachusetts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you know Starkfield, Massachusetts, you know the post-office.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was there that, several years ago, I saw him for the first time; and the sight pulled me up sharp.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even then he was the most striking figure in Starkfield, though he was but the ruin of a man.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading If you know the post-office you must have seen Ethan Frome drive up to it, drop the reins on his hollow-backed bay and drag himself across the brick pavement to the white colonnade; and you must have asked who he was.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Even then he was the most striking figure in Starkfield, though he was but the ruin of a man.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading If you know the post-office you must have seen Ethan Frome drive up to it, drop the reins on his hollow-backed bay and drag himself across the brick pavement to the white colonnade; and you must have asked who he was.
pavement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you know the post-office you must have seen Ethan Frome drive up to it, drop the reins on his hollow-backed bay and drag himself across the brick pavement to the white colonnade; and you must have asked who he was.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had the story, bit by bit, from various people, and, as generally happens in such cases, each time it was a different story.
post-office
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you know Starkfield, Massachusetts, you know the post-office.
pullednounUS /pulled/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was there that, several years ago, I saw him for the first time; and the sight pulled me up sharp.
reins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you know the post-office you must have seen Ethan Frome drive up to it, drop the reins on his hollow-backed bay and drag himself across the brick pavement to the white colonnade; and you must have asked who he was.
ruin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even then he was the most striking figure in Starkfield, though he was but the ruin of a man.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was there that, several years ago, I saw him for the first time; and the sight pulled me up sharp.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you know the post-office you must have seen Ethan Frome drive up to it, drop the reins on his hollow-backed bay and drag himself across the brick pavement to the white colonnade; and you must have asked who he was.
several
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was there that, several years ago, I saw him for the first time; and the sight pulled me up sharp.
sharp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was there that, several years ago, I saw him for the first time; and the sight pulled me up sharp.
sight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was there that, several years ago, I saw him for the first time; and the sight pulled me up sharp.
Starkfield
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you know Starkfield, Massachusetts, you know the post-office.
story
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had the story, bit by bit, from various people, and, as generally happens in such cases, each time it was a different story.
striking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even then he was the most striking figure in Starkfield, though he was but the ruin of a man.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading I had the story, bit by bit, from various people, and, as generally happens in such cases, each time it was a different story.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was there that, several years ago, I saw him for the first time; and the sight pulled me up sharp.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I had the story, bit by bit, from various people, and, as generally happens in such cases, each time it was a different story.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even then he was the most striking figure in Starkfield, though he was but the ruin of a man.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was there that, several years ago, I saw him for the first time; and the sight pulled me up sharp.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Even then he was the most striking figure in Starkfield, though he was but the ruin of a man.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I had the story, bit by bit, from various people, and, as generally happens in such cases, each time it was a different story.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading If you know the post-office you must have seen Ethan Frome drive up to it, drop the reins on his hollow-backed bay and drag himself across the brick pavement to the white colonnade; and you must have asked who he was.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you know the post-office you must have seen Ethan Frome drive up to it, drop the reins on his hollow-backed bay and drag himself across the brick pavement to the white colonnade; and you must have asked who he was.
various
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had the story, bit by bit, from various people, and, as generally happens in such cases, each time it was a different story.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I had the story, bit by bit, from various people, and, as generally happens in such cases, each time it was a different story.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you know the post-office you must have seen Ethan Frome drive up to it, drop the reins on his hollow-backed bay and drag himself across the brick pavement to the white colonnade; and you must have asked who he was.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading If you know the post-office you must have seen Ethan Frome drive up to it, drop the reins on his hollow-backed bay and drag himself across the brick pavement to the white colonnade; and you must have asked who he was.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was there that, several years ago, I saw him for the first time; and the sight pulled me up sharp.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading If you know Starkfield, Massachusetts, you know the post-office.