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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 When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.
amateurs
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From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It is cultured, leisured Europe before the war.
begun
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From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.
Cherry
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From this reading A Russian playwright, Tchekov, had produced four fascinating dramatic studies of Heartbreak House, of which three, The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya, and The Seagull, had been performed in England.
contemptuous
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From this reading Tolstoy, in his Fruits of Enlightenment, had shown us through it in his most ferociously contemptuous manner.
cultured
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From this reading It is cultured, leisured Europe before the war.
diplomatists
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From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.
dramatic
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From this reading A Russian playwright, Tchekov, had produced four fascinating dramatic studies of Heartbreak House, of which three, The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya, and The Seagull, had been performed in England.
England
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From this reading A Russian playwright, Tchekov, had produced four fascinating dramatic studies of Heartbreak House, of which three, The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya, and The Seagull, had been performed in England.
Enlightenment
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From this reading Tolstoy, in his Fruits of Enlightenment, had shown us through it in his most ferociously contemptuous manner.
Europe
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From this reading It is cultured, leisured Europe before the war.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.
fascinating
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From this reading A Russian playwright, Tchekov, had produced four fascinating dramatic studies of Heartbreak House, of which three, The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya, and The Seagull, had been performed in England.
ferociously
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From this reading Tolstoy, in his Fruits of Enlightenment, had shown us through it in his most ferociously contemptuous manner.
few
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From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.
fired
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From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.
follows
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From this reading Heartbreak House is not merely the name of the play which follows this preface.
foreign
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From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.
four
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From this reading A Russian playwright, Tchekov, had produced four fascinating dramatic studies of Heartbreak House, of which three, The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya, and The Seagull, had been performed in England.
Fruits
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From this reading Tolstoy, in his Fruits of Enlightenment, had shown us through it in his most ferociously contemptuous manner.
guns
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From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.
Heartbreak
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From this reading Heartbreak House is not merely the name of the play which follows this preface.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Tolstoy, in his Fruits of Enlightenment, had shown us through it in his most ferociously contemptuous manner.
hobby
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From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.
House
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From this reading Heartbreak House is not merely the name of the play which follows this preface.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A Russian playwright, Tchekov, had produced four fascinating dramatic studies of Heartbreak House, of which three, The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya, and The Seagull, had been performed in England.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Heartbreak House is not merely the name of the play which follows this preface.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is cultured, leisured Europe before the war.
knew
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From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.
leisured
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From this reading It is cultured, leisured Europe before the war.
loaded
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From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.
manner
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From this reading Tolstoy, in his Fruits of Enlightenment, had shown us through it in his most ferociously contemptuous manner.
merely
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From this reading Heartbreak House is not merely the name of the play which follows this preface.
most
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From this reading Tolstoy, in his Fruits of Enlightenment, had shown us through it in his most ferociously contemptuous manner.
namenounUS /name/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Heartbreak House is not merely the name of the play which follows this preface.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Heartbreak House is not merely the name of the play which follows this preface.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Heartbreak House is not merely the name of the play which follows this preface.
only
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From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.
Orchard
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From this reading A Russian playwright, Tchekov, had produced four fascinating dramatic studies of Heartbreak House, of which three, The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya, and The Seagull, had been performed in England.
performed
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From this reading A Russian playwright, Tchekov, had produced four fascinating dramatic studies of Heartbreak House, of which three, The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya, and The Seagull, had been performed in England.
play
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Heartbreak House is not merely the name of the play which follows this preface.
playwright
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From this reading A Russian playwright, Tchekov, had produced four fascinating dramatic studies of Heartbreak House, of which three, The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya, and The Seagull, had been performed in England.
policy
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From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.
preface
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From this reading Heartbreak House is not merely the name of the play which follows this preface.
produced
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From this reading A Russian playwright, Tchekov, had produced four fascinating dramatic studies of Heartbreak House, of which three, The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya, and The Seagull, had been performed in England.
professional
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From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.
Russian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Russian playwright, Tchekov, had produced four fascinating dramatic studies of Heartbreak House, of which three, The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya, and The Seagull, had been performed in England.
Seagull
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Russian playwright, Tchekov, had produced four fascinating dramatic studies of Heartbreak House, of which three, The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya, and The Seagull, had been performed in England.
shot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.
shown
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From this reading Tolstoy, in his Fruits of Enlightenment, had shown us through it in his most ferociously contemptuous manner.
studies
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From this reading A Russian playwright, Tchekov, had produced four fascinating dramatic studies of Heartbreak House, of which three, The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya, and The Seagull, had been performed in England.
Tchekov
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From this reading A Russian playwright, Tchekov, had produced four fascinating dramatic studies of Heartbreak House, of which three, The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya, and The Seagull, had been performed in England.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Heartbreak House is not merely the name of the play which follows this preface.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Heartbreak House is not merely the name of the play which follows this preface.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Russian playwright, Tchekov, had produced four fascinating dramatic studies of Heartbreak House, of which three, The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya, and The Seagull, had been performed in England.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Tolstoy, in his Fruits of Enlightenment, had shown us through it in his most ferociously contemptuous manner.
Tolstoy
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From this reading Tolstoy, in his Fruits of Enlightenment, had shown us through it in his most ferociously contemptuous manner.
Uncle
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From this reading A Russian playwright, Tchekov, had produced four fascinating dramatic studies of Heartbreak House, of which three, The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya, and The Seagull, had been performed in England.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Tolstoy, in his Fruits of Enlightenment, had shown us through it in his most ferociously contemptuous manner.
Vanya
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A Russian playwright, Tchekov, had produced four fascinating dramatic studies of Heartbreak House, of which three, The Cherry Orchard, Uncle Vanya, and The Seagull, had been performed in England.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.
war
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is cultured, leisured Europe before the war.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Heartbreak House is not merely the name of the play which follows this preface.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading When the play was begun not a shot had been fired; and only the professional diplomatists and the very few amateurs whose hobby is foreign policy even knew that the guns were loaded.