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1779
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the year of grace 1779.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In one of the most beautiful corners of beautiful France stood a grand old chateau.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It stood (as became such a castle) upon an eminence, and looked down.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was a fine old building, with countless windows large and small, with high pitched roofs and pointed towers, which, in good taste or bad, did its best to be everywhere ornamental, from the gorgon heads which frowned from its turrets to the long row of stables and the fantastic dovecotes.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It stood (as became such a castle) upon an eminence, and looked down.
bad
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From this reading It was a fine old building, with countless windows large and small, with high pitched roofs and pointed towers, which, in good taste or bad, did its best to be everywhere ornamental, from the gorgon heads which frowned from its turrets to the long row of stables and the fantastic dovecotes.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was a fine old building, with countless windows large and small, with high pitched roofs and pointed towers, which, in good taste or bad, did its best to be everywhere ornamental, from the gorgon heads which frowned from its turrets to the long row of stables and the fantastic dovecotes.
beautiful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In one of the most beautiful corners of beautiful France stood a grand old chateau.
became
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It stood (as became such a castle) upon an eminence, and looked down.
best
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a fine old building, with countless windows large and small, with high pitched roofs and pointed towers, which, in good taste or bad, did its best to be everywhere ornamental, from the gorgon heads which frowned from its turrets to the long row of stables and the fantastic dovecotes.
building
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a fine old building, with countless windows large and small, with high pitched roofs and pointed towers, which, in good taste or bad, did its best to be everywhere ornamental, from the gorgon heads which frowned from its turrets to the long row of stables and the fantastic dovecotes.
castle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It stood (as became such a castle) upon an eminence, and looked down.
chateau
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From this reading In one of the most beautiful corners of beautiful France stood a grand old chateau.
corners
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From this reading In one of the most beautiful corners of beautiful France stood a grand old chateau.
countless
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From this reading It was a fine old building, with countless windows large and small, with high pitched roofs and pointed towers, which, in good taste or bad, did its best to be everywhere ornamental, from the gorgon heads which frowned from its turrets to the long row of stables and the fantastic dovecotes.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It was a fine old building, with countless windows large and small, with high pitched roofs and pointed towers, which, in good taste or bad, did its best to be everywhere ornamental, from the gorgon heads which frowned from its turrets to the long row of stables and the fantastic dovecotes.
dovecotes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a fine old building, with countless windows large and small, with high pitched roofs and pointed towers, which, in good taste or bad, did its best to be everywhere ornamental, from the gorgon heads which frowned from its turrets to the long row of stables and the fantastic dovecotes.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It stood (as became such a castle) upon an eminence, and looked down.
eminence
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From this reading It stood (as became such a castle) upon an eminence, and looked down.
everywhere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a fine old building, with countless windows large and small, with high pitched roofs and pointed towers, which, in good taste or bad, did its best to be everywhere ornamental, from the gorgon heads which frowned from its turrets to the long row of stables and the fantastic dovecotes.
fantastic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a fine old building, with countless windows large and small, with high pitched roofs and pointed towers, which, in good taste or bad, did its best to be everywhere ornamental, from the gorgon heads which frowned from its turrets to the long row of stables and the fantastic dovecotes.
finenounUS /fine/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was a fine old building, with countless windows large and small, with high pitched roofs and pointed towers, which, in good taste or bad, did its best to be everywhere ornamental, from the gorgon heads which frowned from its turrets to the long row of stables and the fantastic dovecotes.
France
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In one of the most beautiful corners of beautiful France stood a grand old chateau.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was a fine old building, with countless windows large and small, with high pitched roofs and pointed towers, which, in good taste or bad, did its best to be everywhere ornamental, from the gorgon heads which frowned from its turrets to the long row of stables and the fantastic dovecotes.
frowned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a fine old building, with countless windows large and small, with high pitched roofs and pointed towers, which, in good taste or bad, did its best to be everywhere ornamental, from the gorgon heads which frowned from its turrets to the long row of stables and the fantastic dovecotes.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was a fine old building, with countless windows large and small, with high pitched roofs and pointed towers, which, in good taste or bad, did its best to be everywhere ornamental, from the gorgon heads which frowned from its turrets to the long row of stables and the fantastic dovecotes.
gorgon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a fine old building, with countless windows large and small, with high pitched roofs and pointed towers, which, in good taste or bad, did its best to be everywhere ornamental, from the gorgon heads which frowned from its turrets to the long row of stables and the fantastic dovecotes.
grace
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From this reading It was the year of grace 1779.
grand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In one of the most beautiful corners of beautiful France stood a grand old chateau.
heads
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a fine old building, with countless windows large and small, with high pitched roofs and pointed towers, which, in good taste or bad, did its best to be everywhere ornamental, from the gorgon heads which frowned from its turrets to the long row of stables and the fantastic dovecotes.
high
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a fine old building, with countless windows large and small, with high pitched roofs and pointed towers, which, in good taste or bad, did its best to be everywhere ornamental, from the gorgon heads which frowned from its turrets to the long row of stables and the fantastic dovecotes.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In one of the most beautiful corners of beautiful France stood a grand old chateau.
indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Very beautiful indeed was what it looked upon.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the year of grace 1779.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It was a fine old building, with countless windows large and small, with high pitched roofs and pointed towers, which, in good taste or bad, did its best to be everywhere ornamental, from the gorgon heads which frowned from its turrets to the long row of stables and the fantastic dovecotes.
large
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a fine old building, with countless windows large and small, with high pitched roofs and pointed towers, which, in good taste or bad, did its best to be everywhere ornamental, from the gorgon heads which frowned from its turrets to the long row of stables and the fantastic dovecotes.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was a fine old building, with countless windows large and small, with high pitched roofs and pointed towers, which, in good taste or bad, did its best to be everywhere ornamental, from the gorgon heads which frowned from its turrets to the long row of stables and the fantastic dovecotes.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It stood (as became such a castle) upon an eminence, and looked down.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In one of the most beautiful corners of beautiful France stood a grand old chateau.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was the year of grace 1779.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In one of the most beautiful corners of beautiful France stood a grand old chateau.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading In one of the most beautiful corners of beautiful France stood a grand old chateau.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was a fine old building, with countless windows large and small, with high pitched roofs and pointed towers, which, in good taste or bad, did its best to be everywhere ornamental, from the gorgon heads which frowned from its turrets to the long row of stables and the fantastic dovecotes.
ornamental
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a fine old building, with countless windows large and small, with high pitched roofs and pointed towers, which, in good taste or bad, did its best to be everywhere ornamental, from the gorgon heads which frowned from its turrets to the long row of stables and the fantastic dovecotes.
pitchednounUS /pitched/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was a fine old building, with countless windows large and small, with high pitched roofs and pointed towers, which, in good taste or bad, did its best to be everywhere ornamental, from the gorgon heads which frowned from its turrets to the long row of stables and the fantastic dovecotes.
pointed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a fine old building, with countless windows large and small, with high pitched roofs and pointed towers, which, in good taste or bad, did its best to be everywhere ornamental, from the gorgon heads which frowned from its turrets to the long row of stables and the fantastic dovecotes.
roofs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a fine old building, with countless windows large and small, with high pitched roofs and pointed towers, which, in good taste or bad, did its best to be everywhere ornamental, from the gorgon heads which frowned from its turrets to the long row of stables and the fantastic dovecotes.
row
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a fine old building, with countless windows large and small, with high pitched roofs and pointed towers, which, in good taste or bad, did its best to be everywhere ornamental, from the gorgon heads which frowned from its turrets to the long row of stables and the fantastic dovecotes.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a fine old building, with countless windows large and small, with high pitched roofs and pointed towers, which, in good taste or bad, did its best to be everywhere ornamental, from the gorgon heads which frowned from its turrets to the long row of stables and the fantastic dovecotes.
stables
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a fine old building, with countless windows large and small, with high pitched roofs and pointed towers, which, in good taste or bad, did its best to be everywhere ornamental, from the gorgon heads which frowned from its turrets to the long row of stables and the fantastic dovecotes.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In one of the most beautiful corners of beautiful France stood a grand old chateau.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading It stood (as became such a castle) upon an eminence, and looked down.
tasteverbUS /teɪst/
To perceive flavor through the mouth.
From this reading It was a fine old building, with countless windows large and small, with high pitched roofs and pointed towers, which, in good taste or bad, did its best to be everywhere ornamental, from the gorgon heads which frowned from its turrets to the long row of stables and the fantastic dovecotes.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was the year of grace 1779.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was a fine old building, with countless windows large and small, with high pitched roofs and pointed towers, which, in good taste or bad, did its best to be everywhere ornamental, from the gorgon heads which frowned from its turrets to the long row of stables and the fantastic dovecotes.
towers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a fine old building, with countless windows large and small, with high pitched roofs and pointed towers, which, in good taste or bad, did its best to be everywhere ornamental, from the gorgon heads which frowned from its turrets to the long row of stables and the fantastic dovecotes.
turrets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a fine old building, with countless windows large and small, with high pitched roofs and pointed towers, which, in good taste or bad, did its best to be everywhere ornamental, from the gorgon heads which frowned from its turrets to the long row of stables and the fantastic dovecotes.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It stood (as became such a castle) upon an eminence, and looked down.
Very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Very beautiful indeed was what it looked upon.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was the year of grace 1779.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Very beautiful indeed was what it looked upon.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was a fine old building, with countless windows large and small, with high pitched roofs and pointed towers, which, in good taste or bad, did its best to be everywhere ornamental, from the gorgon heads which frowned from its turrets to the long row of stables and the fantastic dovecotes.
windows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a fine old building, with countless windows large and small, with high pitched roofs and pointed towers, which, in good taste or bad, did its best to be everywhere ornamental, from the gorgon heads which frowned from its turrets to the long row of stables and the fantastic dovecotes.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was a fine old building, with countless windows large and small, with high pitched roofs and pointed towers, which, in good taste or bad, did its best to be everywhere ornamental, from the gorgon heads which frowned from its turrets to the long row of stables and the fantastic dovecotes.
year
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the year of grace 1779.