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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 BLUE BEARD There was, some time ago, a gentleman who was very rich.
ago
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From this reading BLUE BEARD There was, some time ago, a gentleman who was very rich.
all
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From this reading He had fine town and country houses, his dishes and plates were all of gold or silver, his rooms were hung with damask, his chairs and sofas were covered with the richest silks, and his carriages were all gilt with gold in a grand style.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had fine town and country houses, his dishes and plates were all of gold or silver, his rooms were hung with damask, his chairs and sofas were covered with the richest silks, and his carriages were all gilt with gold in a grand style.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Blue Beard asked her to bestow one of them upon him for a wife, and left it to herself to choose which of the two it should be.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Blue Beard asked her to bestow one of them upon him for a wife, and left it to herself to choose which of the two it should be.
BEARD
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From this reading BLUE BEARD There was, some time ago, a gentleman who was very rich.
beauty
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From this reading Now there was a certain lady of rank, who lived very near him, and had two daughters, both of them of very great beauty.
bestow
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From this reading Blue Beard asked her to bestow one of them upon him for a wife, and left it to herself to choose which of the two it should be.
BLUE
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From this reading BLUE BEARD There was, some time ago, a gentleman who was very rich.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading Now there was a certain lady of rank, who lived very near him, and had two daughters, both of them of very great beauty.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But it happened that this gentleman had a blue beard, which made him so very frightful and ugly, that none of the ladies, in the parts where he lived, would venture to go into his company.
carriages
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From this reading He had fine town and country houses, his dishes and plates were all of gold or silver, his rooms were hung with damask, his chairs and sofas were covered with the richest silks, and his carriages were all gilt with gold in a grand style.
certain
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From this reading Now there was a certain lady of rank, who lived very near him, and had two daughters, both of them of very great beauty.
chairs
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From this reading He had fine town and country houses, his dishes and plates were all of gold or silver, his rooms were hung with damask, his chairs and sofas were covered with the richest silks, and his carriages were all gilt with gold in a grand style.
choosenounUS /choose/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Blue Beard asked her to bestow one of them upon him for a wife, and left it to herself to choose which of the two it should be.
company
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From this reading But it happened that this gentleman had a blue beard, which made him so very frightful and ugly, that none of the ladies, in the parts where he lived, would venture to go into his company.
country
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From this reading He had fine town and country houses, his dishes and plates were all of gold or silver, his rooms were hung with damask, his chairs and sofas were covered with the richest silks, and his carriages were all gilt with gold in a grand style.
covered
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From this reading He had fine town and country houses, his dishes and plates were all of gold or silver, his rooms were hung with damask, his chairs and sofas were covered with the richest silks, and his carriages were all gilt with gold in a grand style.
damask
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From this reading He had fine town and country houses, his dishes and plates were all of gold or silver, his rooms were hung with damask, his chairs and sofas were covered with the richest silks, and his carriages were all gilt with gold in a grand style.
daughters
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From this reading Now there was a certain lady of rank, who lived very near him, and had two daughters, both of them of very great beauty.
dishes
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From this reading He had fine town and country houses, his dishes and plates were all of gold or silver, his rooms were hung with damask, his chairs and sofas were covered with the richest silks, and his carriages were all gilt with gold in a grand style.
finenounUS /fine/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had fine town and country houses, his dishes and plates were all of gold or silver, his rooms were hung with damask, his chairs and sofas were covered with the richest silks, and his carriages were all gilt with gold in a grand style.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Blue Beard asked her to bestow one of them upon him for a wife, and left it to herself to choose which of the two it should be.
frightful
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From this reading But it happened that this gentleman had a blue beard, which made him so very frightful and ugly, that none of the ladies, in the parts where he lived, would venture to go into his company.
gentlemannounUS /ˈgentleman/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading BLUE BEARD There was, some time ago, a gentleman who was very rich.
gilt
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From this reading He had fine town and country houses, his dishes and plates were all of gold or silver, his rooms were hung with damask, his chairs and sofas were covered with the richest silks, and his carriages were all gilt with gold in a grand style.
go
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From this reading But it happened that this gentleman had a blue beard, which made him so very frightful and ugly, that none of the ladies, in the parts where he lived, would venture to go into his company.
gold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had fine town and country houses, his dishes and plates were all of gold or silver, his rooms were hung with damask, his chairs and sofas were covered with the richest silks, and his carriages were all gilt with gold in a grand style.
grand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had fine town and country houses, his dishes and plates were all of gold or silver, his rooms were hung with damask, his chairs and sofas were covered with the richest silks, and his carriages were all gilt with gold in a grand style.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Now there was a certain lady of rank, who lived very near him, and had two daughters, both of them of very great beauty.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had fine town and country houses, his dishes and plates were all of gold or silver, his rooms were hung with damask, his chairs and sofas were covered with the richest silks, and his carriages were all gilt with gold in a grand style.
happened
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From this reading But it happened that this gentleman had a blue beard, which made him so very frightful and ugly, that none of the ladies, in the parts where he lived, would venture to go into his company.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had fine town and country houses, his dishes and plates were all of gold or silver, his rooms were hung with damask, his chairs and sofas were covered with the richest silks, and his carriages were all gilt with gold in a grand style.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Blue Beard asked her to bestow one of them upon him for a wife, and left it to herself to choose which of the two it should be.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Blue Beard asked her to bestow one of them upon him for a wife, and left it to herself to choose which of the two it should be.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But it happened that this gentleman had a blue beard, which made him so very frightful and ugly, that none of the ladies, in the parts where he lived, would venture to go into his company.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had fine town and country houses, his dishes and plates were all of gold or silver, his rooms were hung with damask, his chairs and sofas were covered with the richest silks, and his carriages were all gilt with gold in a grand style.
houses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had fine town and country houses, his dishes and plates were all of gold or silver, his rooms were hung with damask, his chairs and sofas were covered with the richest silks, and his carriages were all gilt with gold in a grand style.
hung
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From this reading He had fine town and country houses, his dishes and plates were all of gold or silver, his rooms were hung with damask, his chairs and sofas were covered with the richest silks, and his carriages were all gilt with gold in a grand style.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had fine town and country houses, his dishes and plates were all of gold or silver, his rooms were hung with damask, his chairs and sofas were covered with the richest silks, and his carriages were all gilt with gold in a grand style.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading But it happened that this gentleman had a blue beard, which made him so very frightful and ugly, that none of the ladies, in the parts where he lived, would venture to go into his company.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But it happened that this gentleman had a blue beard, which made him so very frightful and ugly, that none of the ladies, in the parts where he lived, would venture to go into his company.
ladies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it happened that this gentleman had a blue beard, which made him so very frightful and ugly, that none of the ladies, in the parts where he lived, would venture to go into his company.
lady
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now there was a certain lady of rank, who lived very near him, and had two daughters, both of them of very great beauty.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Blue Beard asked her to bestow one of them upon him for a wife, and left it to herself to choose which of the two it should be.
lived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it happened that this gentleman had a blue beard, which made him so very frightful and ugly, that none of the ladies, in the parts where he lived, would venture to go into his company.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it happened that this gentleman had a blue beard, which made him so very frightful and ugly, that none of the ladies, in the parts where he lived, would venture to go into his company.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now there was a certain lady of rank, who lived very near him, and had two daughters, both of them of very great beauty.
nonepronounUS /nʌn/
not one, and not any
From this reading But it happened that this gentleman had a blue beard, which made him so very frightful and ugly, that none of the ladies, in the parts where he lived, would venture to go into his company.
Now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now there was a certain lady of rank, who lived very near him, and had two daughters, both of them of very great beauty.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had fine town and country houses, his dishes and plates were all of gold or silver, his rooms were hung with damask, his chairs and sofas were covered with the richest silks, and his carriages were all gilt with gold in a grand style.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Blue Beard asked her to bestow one of them upon him for a wife, and left it to herself to choose which of the two it should be.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He had fine town and country houses, his dishes and plates were all of gold or silver, his rooms were hung with damask, his chairs and sofas were covered with the richest silks, and his carriages were all gilt with gold in a grand style.
parts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it happened that this gentleman had a blue beard, which made him so very frightful and ugly, that none of the ladies, in the parts where he lived, would venture to go into his company.
plates
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had fine town and country houses, his dishes and plates were all of gold or silver, his rooms were hung with damask, his chairs and sofas were covered with the richest silks, and his carriages were all gilt with gold in a grand style.
rank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now there was a certain lady of rank, who lived very near him, and had two daughters, both of them of very great beauty.
rich
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BLUE BEARD There was, some time ago, a gentleman who was very rich.
richest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had fine town and country houses, his dishes and plates were all of gold or silver, his rooms were hung with damask, his chairs and sofas were covered with the richest silks, and his carriages were all gilt with gold in a grand style.
rooms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had fine town and country houses, his dishes and plates were all of gold or silver, his rooms were hung with damask, his chairs and sofas were covered with the richest silks, and his carriages were all gilt with gold in a grand style.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Blue Beard asked her to bestow one of them upon him for a wife, and left it to herself to choose which of the two it should be.
silks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had fine town and country houses, his dishes and plates were all of gold or silver, his rooms were hung with damask, his chairs and sofas were covered with the richest silks, and his carriages were all gilt with gold in a grand style.
silver
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had fine town and country houses, his dishes and plates were all of gold or silver, his rooms were hung with damask, his chairs and sofas were covered with the richest silks, and his carriages were all gilt with gold in a grand style.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But it happened that this gentleman had a blue beard, which made him so very frightful and ugly, that none of the ladies, in the parts where he lived, would venture to go into his company.
sofas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had fine town and country houses, his dishes and plates were all of gold or silver, his rooms were hung with damask, his chairs and sofas were covered with the richest silks, and his carriages were all gilt with gold in a grand style.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BLUE BEARD There was, some time ago, a gentleman who was very rich.
style
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had fine town and country houses, his dishes and plates were all of gold or silver, his rooms were hung with damask, his chairs and sofas were covered with the richest silks, and his carriages were all gilt with gold in a grand style.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But it happened that this gentleman had a blue beard, which made him so very frightful and ugly, that none of the ladies, in the parts where he lived, would venture to go into his company.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He had fine town and country houses, his dishes and plates were all of gold or silver, his rooms were hung with damask, his chairs and sofas were covered with the richest silks, and his carriages were all gilt with gold in a grand style.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Now there was a certain lady of rank, who lived very near him, and had two daughters, both of them of very great beauty.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BLUE BEARD There was, some time ago, a gentleman who was very rich.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But it happened that this gentleman had a blue beard, which made him so very frightful and ugly, that none of the ladies, in the parts where he lived, would venture to go into his company.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading BLUE BEARD There was, some time ago, a gentleman who was very rich.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But it happened that this gentleman had a blue beard, which made him so very frightful and ugly, that none of the ladies, in the parts where he lived, would venture to go into his company.
town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had fine town and country houses, his dishes and plates were all of gold or silver, his rooms were hung with damask, his chairs and sofas were covered with the richest silks, and his carriages were all gilt with gold in a grand style.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now there was a certain lady of rank, who lived very near him, and had two daughters, both of them of very great beauty.
ugly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it happened that this gentleman had a blue beard, which made him so very frightful and ugly, that none of the ladies, in the parts where he lived, would venture to go into his company.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Blue Beard asked her to bestow one of them upon him for a wife, and left it to herself to choose which of the two it should be.
venture
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it happened that this gentleman had a blue beard, which made him so very frightful and ugly, that none of the ladies, in the parts where he lived, would venture to go into his company.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading BLUE BEARD There was, some time ago, a gentleman who was very rich.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading BLUE BEARD There was, some time ago, a gentleman who was very rich.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He had fine town and country houses, his dishes and plates were all of gold or silver, his rooms were hung with damask, his chairs and sofas were covered with the richest silks, and his carriages were all gilt with gold in a grand style.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading But it happened that this gentleman had a blue beard, which made him so very frightful and ugly, that none of the ladies, in the parts where he lived, would venture to go into his company.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But it happened that this gentleman had a blue beard, which made him so very frightful and ugly, that none of the ladies, in the parts where he lived, would venture to go into his company.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading BLUE BEARD There was, some time ago, a gentleman who was very rich.
wife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Blue Beard asked her to bestow one of them upon him for a wife, and left it to herself to choose which of the two it should be.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had fine town and country houses, his dishes and plates were all of gold or silver, his rooms were hung with damask, his chairs and sofas were covered with the richest silks, and his carriages were all gilt with gold in a grand style.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But it happened that this gentleman had a blue beard, which made him so very frightful and ugly, that none of the ladies, in the parts where he lived, would venture to go into his company.
