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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 There the Abbot, an excellent manager of merchant origin, received Sergius simply and quietly and placed him in Hilary’s cell, at first assigning to him a lay brother but afterwards leaving him alone, at Sergius’s own request.
Abbot
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From this reading Sergius obeyed the starets, showed his letter to the Abbot, and having obtained his permission, gave up his cell, handed all his possessions over to the monastery, and set out for the Tambov hermitage.
afterwards
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From this reading There the Abbot, an excellent manager of merchant origin, received Sergius simply and quietly and placed him in Hilary’s cell, at first assigning to him a lay brother but afterwards leaving him alone, at Sergius’s own request.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sergius obeyed the starets, showed his letter to the Abbot, and having obtained his permission, gave up his cell, handed all his possessions over to the monastery, and set out for the Tambov hermitage.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There the Abbot, an excellent manager of merchant origin, received Sergius simply and quietly and placed him in Hilary’s cell, at first assigning to him a lay brother but afterwards leaving him alone, at Sergius’s own request.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There the Abbot, an excellent manager of merchant origin, received Sergius simply and quietly and placed him in Hilary’s cell, at first assigning to him a lay brother but afterwards leaving him alone, at Sergius’s own request.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Sergius obeyed the starets, showed his letter to the Abbot, and having obtained his permission, gave up his cell, handed all his possessions over to the monastery, and set out for the Tambov hermitage.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Outside the outer door, which fastened with a hook, was another shelf on which, once a day, a monk placed food from the monastery.
assigning
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From this reading There the Abbot, an excellent manager of merchant origin, received Sergius simply and quietly and placed him in Hilary’s cell, at first assigning to him a lay brother but afterwards leaving him alone, at Sergius’s own request.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There the Abbot, an excellent manager of merchant origin, received Sergius simply and quietly and placed him in Hilary’s cell, at first assigning to him a lay brother but afterwards leaving him alone, at Sergius’s own request.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the back part was Hilary’s grave, while in the front was a niche for sleeping, with a straw mattress, a small table, and a shelf with icons and books.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The cell was a dual cave, dug into the hillside, and in it Hilary had been buried.
booksnounUS /bʊks/
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading In the back part was Hilary’s grave, while in the front was a niche for sleeping, with a straw mattress, a small table, and a shelf with icons and books.
brother
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From this reading There the Abbot, an excellent manager of merchant origin, received Sergius simply and quietly and placed him in Hilary’s cell, at first assigning to him a lay brother but afterwards leaving him alone, at Sergius’s own request.
buried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cell was a dual cave, dug into the hillside, and in it Hilary had been buried.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There the Abbot, an excellent manager of merchant origin, received Sergius simply and quietly and placed him in Hilary’s cell, at first assigning to him a lay brother but afterwards leaving him alone, at Sergius’s own request.
cave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cell was a dual cave, dug into the hillside, and in it Hilary had been buried.
cellnounUS /sel/
A small stone room in a prison where an inmate is locked behind iron bars.
From this reading Sergius obeyed the starets, showed his letter to the Abbot, and having obtained his permission, gave up his cell, handed all his possessions over to the monastery, and set out for the Tambov hermitage.
day
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From this reading Outside the outer door, which fastened with a hook, was another shelf on which, once a day, a monk placed food from the monastery.
door
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From this reading Outside the outer door, which fastened with a hook, was another shelf on which, once a day, a monk placed food from the monastery.
dual
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From this reading The cell was a dual cave, dug into the hillside, and in it Hilary had been buried.
dug
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From this reading The cell was a dual cave, dug into the hillside, and in it Hilary had been buried.
excellent
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From this reading There the Abbot, an excellent manager of merchant origin, received Sergius simply and quietly and placed him in Hilary’s cell, at first assigning to him a lay brother but afterwards leaving him alone, at Sergius’s own request.
fastened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Outside the outer door, which fastened with a hook, was another shelf on which, once a day, a monk placed food from the monastery.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There the Abbot, an excellent manager of merchant origin, received Sergius simply and quietly and placed him in Hilary’s cell, at first assigning to him a lay brother but afterwards leaving him alone, at Sergius’s own request.
food
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Outside the outer door, which fastened with a hook, was another shelf on which, once a day, a monk placed food from the monastery.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Sergius obeyed the starets, showed his letter to the Abbot, and having obtained his permission, gave up his cell, handed all his possessions over to the monastery, and set out for the Tambov hermitage.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Outside the outer door, which fastened with a hook, was another shelf on which, once a day, a monk placed food from the monastery.
front
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From this reading In the back part was Hilary’s grave, while in the front was a niche for sleeping, with a straw mattress, a small table, and a shelf with icons and books.
gave
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From this reading Sergius obeyed the starets, showed his letter to the Abbot, and having obtained his permission, gave up his cell, handed all his possessions over to the monastery, and set out for the Tambov hermitage.
grave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the back part was Hilary’s grave, while in the front was a niche for sleeping, with a straw mattress, a small table, and a shelf with icons and books.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The cell was a dual cave, dug into the hillside, and in it Hilary had been buried.
handed
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From this reading Sergius obeyed the starets, showed his letter to the Abbot, and having obtained his permission, gave up his cell, handed all his possessions over to the monastery, and set out for the Tambov hermitage.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Sergius obeyed the starets, showed his letter to the Abbot, and having obtained his permission, gave up his cell, handed all his possessions over to the monastery, and set out for the Tambov hermitage.
hermitage
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From this reading Sergius obeyed the starets, showed his letter to the Abbot, and having obtained his permission, gave up his cell, handed all his possessions over to the monastery, and set out for the Tambov hermitage.
Hilary
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From this reading The cell was a dual cave, dug into the hillside, and in it Hilary had been buried.
Hilary's
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From this reading There the Abbot, an excellent manager of merchant origin, received Sergius simply and quietly and placed him in Hilary’s cell, at first assigning to him a lay brother but afterwards leaving him alone, at Sergius’s own request.
hillside
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cell was a dual cave, dug into the hillside, and in it Hilary had been buried.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There the Abbot, an excellent manager of merchant origin, received Sergius simply and quietly and placed him in Hilary’s cell, at first assigning to him a lay brother but afterwards leaving him alone, at Sergius’s own request.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Sergius obeyed the starets, showed his letter to the Abbot, and having obtained his permission, gave up his cell, handed all his possessions over to the monastery, and set out for the Tambov hermitage.
hook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Outside the outer door, which fastened with a hook, was another shelf on which, once a day, a monk placed food from the monastery.
icons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the back part was Hilary’s grave, while in the front was a niche for sleeping, with a straw mattress, a small table, and a shelf with icons and books.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There the Abbot, an excellent manager of merchant origin, received Sergius simply and quietly and placed him in Hilary’s cell, at first assigning to him a lay brother but afterwards leaving him alone, at Sergius’s own request.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The cell was a dual cave, dug into the hillside, and in it Hilary had been buried.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The cell was a dual cave, dug into the hillside, and in it Hilary had been buried.
lay
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From this reading There the Abbot, an excellent manager of merchant origin, received Sergius simply and quietly and placed him in Hilary’s cell, at first assigning to him a lay brother but afterwards leaving him alone, at Sergius’s own request.
leaving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There the Abbot, an excellent manager of merchant origin, received Sergius simply and quietly and placed him in Hilary’s cell, at first assigning to him a lay brother but afterwards leaving him alone, at Sergius’s own request.
letter
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From this reading Sergius obeyed the starets, showed his letter to the Abbot, and having obtained his permission, gave up his cell, handed all his possessions over to the monastery, and set out for the Tambov hermitage.
manager
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There the Abbot, an excellent manager of merchant origin, received Sergius simply and quietly and placed him in Hilary’s cell, at first assigning to him a lay brother but afterwards leaving him alone, at Sergius’s own request.
mattress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the back part was Hilary’s grave, while in the front was a niche for sleeping, with a straw mattress, a small table, and a shelf with icons and books.
merchantnounUS /ˈmɜːr.tʃənt/
A person or company involved in wholesale trade, especially with foreign countries.
From this reading There the Abbot, an excellent manager of merchant origin, received Sergius simply and quietly and placed him in Hilary’s cell, at first assigning to him a lay brother but afterwards leaving him alone, at Sergius’s own request.
monastery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sergius obeyed the starets, showed his letter to the Abbot, and having obtained his permission, gave up his cell, handed all his possessions over to the monastery, and set out for the Tambov hermitage.
monk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Outside the outer door, which fastened with a hook, was another shelf on which, once a day, a monk placed food from the monastery.
niche
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From this reading In the back part was Hilary’s grave, while in the front was a niche for sleeping, with a straw mattress, a small table, and a shelf with icons and books.
obeyed
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From this reading Sergius obeyed the starets, showed his letter to the Abbot, and having obtained his permission, gave up his cell, handed all his possessions over to the monastery, and set out for the Tambov hermitage.
obtained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sergius obeyed the starets, showed his letter to the Abbot, and having obtained his permission, gave up his cell, handed all his possessions over to the monastery, and set out for the Tambov hermitage.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There the Abbot, an excellent manager of merchant origin, received Sergius simply and quietly and placed him in Hilary’s cell, at first assigning to him a lay brother but afterwards leaving him alone, at Sergius’s own request.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Outside the outer door, which fastened with a hook, was another shelf on which, once a day, a monk placed food from the monastery.
once
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From this reading Outside the outer door, which fastened with a hook, was another shelf on which, once a day, a monk placed food from the monastery.
origin
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From this reading There the Abbot, an excellent manager of merchant origin, received Sergius simply and quietly and placed him in Hilary’s cell, at first assigning to him a lay brother but afterwards leaving him alone, at Sergius’s own request.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sergius obeyed the starets, showed his letter to the Abbot, and having obtained his permission, gave up his cell, handed all his possessions over to the monastery, and set out for the Tambov hermitage.
outer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Outside the outer door, which fastened with a hook, was another shelf on which, once a day, a monk placed food from the monastery.
OutsidenounUS /ˈoutside/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Outside the outer door, which fastened with a hook, was another shelf on which, once a day, a monk placed food from the monastery.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Sergius obeyed the starets, showed his letter to the Abbot, and having obtained his permission, gave up his cell, handed all his possessions over to the monastery, and set out for the Tambov hermitage.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There the Abbot, an excellent manager of merchant origin, received Sergius simply and quietly and placed him in Hilary’s cell, at first assigning to him a lay brother but afterwards leaving him alone, at Sergius’s own request.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In the back part was Hilary’s grave, while in the front was a niche for sleeping, with a straw mattress, a small table, and a shelf with icons and books.
permission
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sergius obeyed the starets, showed his letter to the Abbot, and having obtained his permission, gave up his cell, handed all his possessions over to the monastery, and set out for the Tambov hermitage.
placed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There the Abbot, an excellent manager of merchant origin, received Sergius simply and quietly and placed him in Hilary’s cell, at first assigning to him a lay brother but afterwards leaving him alone, at Sergius’s own request.
possessions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sergius obeyed the starets, showed his letter to the Abbot, and having obtained his permission, gave up his cell, handed all his possessions over to the monastery, and set out for the Tambov hermitage.
quietly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There the Abbot, an excellent manager of merchant origin, received Sergius simply and quietly and placed him in Hilary’s cell, at first assigning to him a lay brother but afterwards leaving him alone, at Sergius’s own request.
received
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There the Abbot, an excellent manager of merchant origin, received Sergius simply and quietly and placed him in Hilary’s cell, at first assigning to him a lay brother but afterwards leaving him alone, at Sergius’s own request.
request
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There the Abbot, an excellent manager of merchant origin, received Sergius simply and quietly and placed him in Hilary’s cell, at first assigning to him a lay brother but afterwards leaving him alone, at Sergius’s own request.
Sergius
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sergius obeyed the starets, showed his letter to the Abbot, and having obtained his permission, gave up his cell, handed all his possessions over to the monastery, and set out for the Tambov hermitage.
Sergius's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There the Abbot, an excellent manager of merchant origin, received Sergius simply and quietly and placed him in Hilary’s cell, at first assigning to him a lay brother but afterwards leaving him alone, at Sergius’s own request.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sergius obeyed the starets, showed his letter to the Abbot, and having obtained his permission, gave up his cell, handed all his possessions over to the monastery, and set out for the Tambov hermitage.
shelfnounUS /ʃelf/
A flat horizontal plane used to hold books or scrolls in a library.
From this reading In the back part was Hilary’s grave, while in the front was a niche for sleeping, with a straw mattress, a small table, and a shelf with icons and books.
showed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sergius obeyed the starets, showed his letter to the Abbot, and having obtained his permission, gave up his cell, handed all his possessions over to the monastery, and set out for the Tambov hermitage.
simply
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There the Abbot, an excellent manager of merchant origin, received Sergius simply and quietly and placed him in Hilary’s cell, at first assigning to him a lay brother but afterwards leaving him alone, at Sergius’s own request.
sleeping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the back part was Hilary’s grave, while in the front was a niche for sleeping, with a straw mattress, a small table, and a shelf with icons and books.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the back part was Hilary’s grave, while in the front was a niche for sleeping, with a straw mattress, a small table, and a shelf with icons and books.
starets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sergius obeyed the starets, showed his letter to the Abbot, and having obtained his permission, gave up his cell, handed all his possessions over to the monastery, and set out for the Tambov hermitage.
straw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the back part was Hilary’s grave, while in the front was a niche for sleeping, with a straw mattress, a small table, and a shelf with icons and books.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the back part was Hilary’s grave, while in the front was a niche for sleeping, with a straw mattress, a small table, and a shelf with icons and books.
Tambov
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sergius obeyed the starets, showed his letter to the Abbot, and having obtained his permission, gave up his cell, handed all his possessions over to the monastery, and set out for the Tambov hermitage.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Sergius obeyed the starets, showed his letter to the Abbot, and having obtained his permission, gave up his cell, handed all his possessions over to the monastery, and set out for the Tambov hermitage.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There the Abbot, an excellent manager of merchant origin, received Sergius simply and quietly and placed him in Hilary’s cell, at first assigning to him a lay brother but afterwards leaving him alone, at Sergius’s own request.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Sergius obeyed the starets, showed his letter to the Abbot, and having obtained his permission, gave up his cell, handed all his possessions over to the monastery, and set out for the Tambov hermitage.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sergius obeyed the starets, showed his letter to the Abbot, and having obtained his permission, gave up his cell, handed all his possessions over to the monastery, and set out for the Tambov hermitage.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The cell was a dual cave, dug into the hillside, and in it Hilary had been buried.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Outside the outer door, which fastened with a hook, was another shelf on which, once a day, a monk placed food from the monastery.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading In the back part was Hilary’s grave, while in the front was a niche for sleeping, with a straw mattress, a small table, and a shelf with icons and books.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading In the back part was Hilary’s grave, while in the front was a niche for sleeping, with a straw mattress, a small table, and a shelf with icons and books.