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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 An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.
abroad
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From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.
aims
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From this reading Everything fine and great in his thoughts and aims seemed tarnished.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.
AndeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A helpless sense of bitterness mastered him, and destroyed the loveliness and peace of the view.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.
beautiful
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From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.
bitterness
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From this reading A helpless sense of bitterness mastered him, and destroyed the loveliness and peace of the view.
bring
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From this reading To what stage of degradation would his utter disillusion finally bring him!
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.
Cecilia
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From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.
city
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From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.
climbing
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From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.
continuous
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From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.
Cricklander
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From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.
day
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From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.
degradation
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From this reading To what stage of degradation would his utter disillusion finally bring him!
Derringham
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From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.
destroyed
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From this reading A helpless sense of bitterness mastered him, and destroyed the loveliness and peace of the view.
disillusion
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From this reading To what stage of degradation would his utter disillusion finally bring him!
EverythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading Everything fine and great in his thoughts and aims seemed tarnished.
finally
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From this reading To what stage of degradation would his utter disillusion finally bring him!
finenounUS /fine/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Everything fine and great in his thoughts and aims seemed tarnished.
Gimignano
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From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Everything fine and great in his thoughts and aims seemed tarnished.
hand
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From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.
helpless
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From this reading A helpless sense of bitterness mastered him, and destroyed the loveliness and peace of the view.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A helpless sense of bitterness mastered him, and destroyed the loveliness and peace of the view.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.
hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.
indulge
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From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.
insistedverbUS /ɪnˈsɪstɪd/
demanded something firmly
From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.
John
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From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.
lead
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From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.
loveliness
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From this reading A helpless sense of bitterness mastered him, and destroyed the loveliness and peace of the view.
mastered
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From this reading A helpless sense of bitterness mastered him, and destroyed the loveliness and peace of the view.
mediæval
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From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.
men
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From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.
modernizing
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From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.
motor
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From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.
once
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From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.
only
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From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.
peace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A helpless sense of bitterness mastered him, and destroyed the loveliness and peace of the view.
permit
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From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.
racket
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From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.
record
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From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.
roads
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From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.
San
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From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Everything fine and great in his thoughts and aims seemed tarnished.
sense
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From this reading A helpless sense of bitterness mastered him, and destroyed the loveliness and peace of the view.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.
stage
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From this reading To what stage of degradation would his utter disillusion finally bring him!
stands
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From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.
steep
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From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.
sunset
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From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.
tarnished
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From this reading Everything fine and great in his thoughts and aims seemed tarnished.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.
things
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From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.
thoughts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everything fine and great in his thoughts and aims seemed tarnished.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.
towers
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From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.
untouched
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From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.
utter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To what stage of degradation would his utter disillusion finally bring him!
view
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A helpless sense of bitterness mastered him, and destroyed the loveliness and peace of the view.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading To what stage of degradation would his utter disillusion finally bring him!
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading An hour or so before sunset the next day John Derringham in his motor was climbing the steep roads which lead to San Gimignano, the city of beautiful towers, which still stands, a record of things mediæval, untouched by the modernizing hand of men.
wife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course, when Cecilia Cricklander should once be his wife, he would not permit her to lead this life of continuous racket--or, if she insisted upon it, she should indulge in it only when she went abroad alone.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading To what stage of degradation would his utter disillusion finally bring him!