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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 THE COMEDY BEGINS The Art Critic who had smiled was--like all men--a subject for pity rather than for blame.
ability
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An Irishman of real ability, he had started life with high ideals and a belief that he could live with them.
acid
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From this reading He had hoped to serve Art, to keep his service pure; but, having one day let his acid temperament out of hand to revel in an orgy of personal retaliation, he had since never known when she would slip her chain and come home smothered in mire.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE COMEDY BEGINS The Art Critic who had smiled was--like all men--a subject for pity rather than for blame.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His ideals had left him, one by one; he now lived alone, immune from dignity and shame, soothing himself with whisky.
AndeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An Irishman of real ability, he had started life with high ideals and a belief that he could live with them.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading An Irishman of real ability, he had started life with high ideals and a belief that he could live with them.
Artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading THE COMEDY BEGINS The Art Critic who had smiled was--like all men--a subject for pity rather than for blame.
BEGINS
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From this reading THE COMEDY BEGINS The Art Critic who had smiled was--like all men--a subject for pity rather than for blame.
belief
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From this reading An Irishman of real ability, he had started life with high ideals and a belief that he could live with them.
blame
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From this reading THE COMEDY BEGINS The Art Critic who had smiled was--like all men--a subject for pity rather than for blame.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He had hoped to serve Art, to keep his service pure; but, having one day let his acid temperament out of hand to revel in an orgy of personal retaliation, he had since never known when she would slip her chain and come home smothered in mire.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading His ideals had left him, one by one; he now lived alone, immune from dignity and shame, soothing himself with whisky.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Moreover, he no longer chastised her when she came.
chain
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From this reading He had hoped to serve Art, to keep his service pure; but, having one day let his acid temperament out of hand to revel in an orgy of personal retaliation, he had since never known when she would slip her chain and come home smothered in mire.
chastised
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From this reading Moreover, he no longer chastised her when she came.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had hoped to serve Art, to keep his service pure; but, having one day let his acid temperament out of hand to revel in an orgy of personal retaliation, he had since never known when she would slip her chain and come home smothered in mire.
COMEDY
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From this reading THE COMEDY BEGINS The Art Critic who had smiled was--like all men--a subject for pity rather than for blame.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading An Irishman of real ability, he had started life with high ideals and a belief that he could live with them.
Critic
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From this reading THE COMEDY BEGINS The Art Critic who had smiled was--like all men--a subject for pity rather than for blame.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had hoped to serve Art, to keep his service pure; but, having one day let his acid temperament out of hand to revel in an orgy of personal retaliation, he had since never known when she would slip her chain and come home smothered in mire.
dignity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His ideals had left him, one by one; he now lived alone, immune from dignity and shame, soothing himself with whisky.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE COMEDY BEGINS The Art Critic who had smiled was--like all men--a subject for pity rather than for blame.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading His ideals had left him, one by one; he now lived alone, immune from dignity and shame, soothing himself with whisky.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE COMEDY BEGINS The Art Critic who had smiled was--like all men--a subject for pity rather than for blame.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had hoped to serve Art, to keep his service pure; but, having one day let his acid temperament out of hand to revel in an orgy of personal retaliation, he had since never known when she would slip her chain and come home smothered in mire.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading He had hoped to serve Art, to keep his service pure; but, having one day let his acid temperament out of hand to revel in an orgy of personal retaliation, he had since never known when she would slip her chain and come home smothered in mire.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading An Irishman of real ability, he had started life with high ideals and a belief that he could live with them.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He had hoped to serve Art, to keep his service pure; but, having one day let his acid temperament out of hand to revel in an orgy of personal retaliation, he had since never known when she would slip her chain and come home smothered in mire.
high
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An Irishman of real ability, he had started life with high ideals and a belief that he could live with them.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His ideals had left him, one by one; he now lived alone, immune from dignity and shame, soothing himself with whisky.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading His ideals had left him, one by one; he now lived alone, immune from dignity and shame, soothing himself with whisky.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had hoped to serve Art, to keep his service pure; but, having one day let his acid temperament out of hand to revel in an orgy of personal retaliation, he had since never known when she would slip her chain and come home smothered in mire.
home
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From this reading He had hoped to serve Art, to keep his service pure; but, having one day let his acid temperament out of hand to revel in an orgy of personal retaliation, he had since never known when she would slip her chain and come home smothered in mire.
hoped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had hoped to serve Art, to keep his service pure; but, having one day let his acid temperament out of hand to revel in an orgy of personal retaliation, he had since never known when she would slip her chain and come home smothered in mire.
ideals
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An Irishman of real ability, he had started life with high ideals and a belief that he could live with them.
immune
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His ideals had left him, one by one; he now lived alone, immune from dignity and shame, soothing himself with whisky.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had hoped to serve Art, to keep his service pure; but, having one day let his acid temperament out of hand to revel in an orgy of personal retaliation, he had since never known when she would slip her chain and come home smothered in mire.
Irishman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An Irishman of real ability, he had started life with high ideals and a belief that he could live with them.
keep
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From this reading He had hoped to serve Art, to keep his service pure; but, having one day let his acid temperament out of hand to revel in an orgy of personal retaliation, he had since never known when she would slip her chain and come home smothered in mire.
known
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had hoped to serve Art, to keep his service pure; but, having one day let his acid temperament out of hand to revel in an orgy of personal retaliation, he had since never known when she would slip her chain and come home smothered in mire.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His ideals had left him, one by one; he now lived alone, immune from dignity and shame, soothing himself with whisky.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading He had hoped to serve Art, to keep his service pure; but, having one day let his acid temperament out of hand to revel in an orgy of personal retaliation, he had since never known when she would slip her chain and come home smothered in mire.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading An Irishman of real ability, he had started life with high ideals and a belief that he could live with them.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE COMEDY BEGINS The Art Critic who had smiled was--like all men--a subject for pity rather than for blame.
live
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An Irishman of real ability, he had started life with high ideals and a belief that he could live with them.
lived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His ideals had left him, one by one; he now lived alone, immune from dignity and shame, soothing himself with whisky.
longer
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From this reading Moreover, he no longer chastised her when she came.
men
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From this reading THE COMEDY BEGINS The Art Critic who had smiled was--like all men--a subject for pity rather than for blame.
mire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had hoped to serve Art, to keep his service pure; but, having one day let his acid temperament out of hand to revel in an orgy of personal retaliation, he had since never known when she would slip her chain and come home smothered in mire.
MoreoveradverbUS /mɔːˈroʊvər/
in addition to what has just been said
From this reading Moreover, he no longer chastised her when she came.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had hoped to serve Art, to keep his service pure; but, having one day let his acid temperament out of hand to revel in an orgy of personal retaliation, he had since never known when she would slip her chain and come home smothered in mire.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Moreover, he no longer chastised her when she came.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His ideals had left him, one by one; he now lived alone, immune from dignity and shame, soothing himself with whisky.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading An Irishman of real ability, he had started life with high ideals and a belief that he could live with them.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He had hoped to serve Art, to keep his service pure; but, having one day let his acid temperament out of hand to revel in an orgy of personal retaliation, he had since never known when she would slip her chain and come home smothered in mire.
orgy
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From this reading He had hoped to serve Art, to keep his service pure; but, having one day let his acid temperament out of hand to revel in an orgy of personal retaliation, he had since never known when she would slip her chain and come home smothered in mire.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had hoped to serve Art, to keep his service pure; but, having one day let his acid temperament out of hand to revel in an orgy of personal retaliation, he had since never known when she would slip her chain and come home smothered in mire.
personal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had hoped to serve Art, to keep his service pure; but, having one day let his acid temperament out of hand to revel in an orgy of personal retaliation, he had since never known when she would slip her chain and come home smothered in mire.
pity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE COMEDY BEGINS The Art Critic who had smiled was--like all men--a subject for pity rather than for blame.
pure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had hoped to serve Art, to keep his service pure; but, having one day let his acid temperament out of hand to revel in an orgy of personal retaliation, he had since never known when she would slip her chain and come home smothered in mire.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE COMEDY BEGINS The Art Critic who had smiled was--like all men--a subject for pity rather than for blame.
real
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An Irishman of real ability, he had started life with high ideals and a belief that he could live with them.
retaliation
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From this reading He had hoped to serve Art, to keep his service pure; but, having one day let his acid temperament out of hand to revel in an orgy of personal retaliation, he had since never known when she would slip her chain and come home smothered in mire.
revel
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From this reading He had hoped to serve Art, to keep his service pure; but, having one day let his acid temperament out of hand to revel in an orgy of personal retaliation, he had since never known when she would slip her chain and come home smothered in mire.
serve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had hoped to serve Art, to keep his service pure; but, having one day let his acid temperament out of hand to revel in an orgy of personal retaliation, he had since never known when she would slip her chain and come home smothered in mire.
service
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had hoped to serve Art, to keep his service pure; but, having one day let his acid temperament out of hand to revel in an orgy of personal retaliation, he had since never known when she would slip her chain and come home smothered in mire.
shame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His ideals had left him, one by one; he now lived alone, immune from dignity and shame, soothing himself with whisky.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had hoped to serve Art, to keep his service pure; but, having one day let his acid temperament out of hand to revel in an orgy of personal retaliation, he had since never known when she would slip her chain and come home smothered in mire.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading He had hoped to serve Art, to keep his service pure; but, having one day let his acid temperament out of hand to revel in an orgy of personal retaliation, he had since never known when she would slip her chain and come home smothered in mire.
slip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had hoped to serve Art, to keep his service pure; but, having one day let his acid temperament out of hand to revel in an orgy of personal retaliation, he had since never known when she would slip her chain and come home smothered in mire.
smiled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE COMEDY BEGINS The Art Critic who had smiled was--like all men--a subject for pity rather than for blame.
smothered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had hoped to serve Art, to keep his service pure; but, having one day let his acid temperament out of hand to revel in an orgy of personal retaliation, he had since never known when she would slip her chain and come home smothered in mire.
soothing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His ideals had left him, one by one; he now lived alone, immune from dignity and shame, soothing himself with whisky.
started
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An Irishman of real ability, he had started life with high ideals and a belief that he could live with them.
subject
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE COMEDY BEGINS The Art Critic who had smiled was--like all men--a subject for pity rather than for blame.
temperament
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had hoped to serve Art, to keep his service pure; but, having one day let his acid temperament out of hand to revel in an orgy of personal retaliation, he had since never known when she would slip her chain and come home smothered in mire.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading THE COMEDY BEGINS The Art Critic who had smiled was--like all men--a subject for pity rather than for blame.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading An Irishman of real ability, he had started life with high ideals and a belief that he could live with them.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE COMEDY BEGINS The Art Critic who had smiled was--like all men--a subject for pity rather than for blame.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading An Irishman of real ability, he had started life with high ideals and a belief that he could live with them.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had hoped to serve Art, to keep his service pure; but, having one day let his acid temperament out of hand to revel in an orgy of personal retaliation, he had since never known when she would slip her chain and come home smothered in mire.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE COMEDY BEGINS The Art Critic who had smiled was--like all men--a subject for pity rather than for blame.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading He had hoped to serve Art, to keep his service pure; but, having one day let his acid temperament out of hand to revel in an orgy of personal retaliation, he had since never known when she would slip her chain and come home smothered in mire.
whisky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His ideals had left him, one by one; he now lived alone, immune from dignity and shame, soothing himself with whisky.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading THE COMEDY BEGINS The Art Critic who had smiled was--like all men--a subject for pity rather than for blame.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading An Irishman of real ability, he had started life with high ideals and a belief that he could live with them.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He had hoped to serve Art, to keep his service pure; but, having one day let his acid temperament out of hand to revel in an orgy of personal retaliation, he had since never known when she would slip her chain and come home smothered in mire.
