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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 Paris lay sparkling under a cold, clear sky.
act
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Somewhere in the city a bell sounded the hour, and with the last stroke the drop curtain fell on the first act of “La Belle Hélène.”
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The brilliant streets lay coiled along the Seine and stretched glittering from bank to bank, from boulevard to boulevard; cafés, brasseries, concert halls and theaters in the yellow blaze of gas and the white and violet of electricity.
amidstprepositionUS /əˈmɪdst/
in the middle of; surrounded by
From this reading It fell amidst a whirlwind of applause, in which the orchestra led.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The brilliant streets lay coiled along the Seine and stretched glittering from bank to bank, from boulevard to boulevard; cafés, brasseries, concert halls and theaters in the yellow blaze of gas and the white and violet of electricity.
applause
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From this reading It fell amidst a whirlwind of applause, in which the orchestra led.
away
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From this reading It was not late, but people who entered the lobby of the Theater Fauvette turned away before the placard “Standing room only.”
bank
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From this reading The brilliant streets lay coiled along the Seine and stretched glittering from bank to bank, from boulevard to boulevard; cafés, brasseries, concert halls and theaters in the yellow blaze of gas and the white and violet of electricity.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It was not late, but people who entered the lobby of the Theater Fauvette turned away before the placard “Standing room only.”
bell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Somewhere in the city a bell sounded the hour, and with the last stroke the drop curtain fell on the first act of “La Belle Hélène.”
Belle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Somewhere in the city a bell sounded the hour, and with the last stroke the drop curtain fell on the first act of “La Belle Hélène.”
blaze
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The brilliant streets lay coiled along the Seine and stretched glittering from bank to bank, from boulevard to boulevard; cafés, brasseries, concert halls and theaters in the yellow blaze of gas and the white and violet of electricity.
boulevard
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From this reading The brilliant streets lay coiled along the Seine and stretched glittering from bank to bank, from boulevard to boulevard; cafés, brasseries, concert halls and theaters in the yellow blaze of gas and the white and violet of electricity.
brasseries
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From this reading The brilliant streets lay coiled along the Seine and stretched glittering from bank to bank, from boulevard to boulevard; cafés, brasseries, concert halls and theaters in the yellow blaze of gas and the white and violet of electricity.
brilliant
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From this reading The brilliant streets lay coiled along the Seine and stretched glittering from bank to bank, from boulevard to boulevard; cafés, brasseries, concert halls and theaters in the yellow blaze of gas and the white and violet of electricity.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was not late, but people who entered the lobby of the Theater Fauvette turned away before the placard “Standing room only.”
cafés
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From this reading The brilliant streets lay coiled along the Seine and stretched glittering from bank to bank, from boulevard to boulevard; cafés, brasseries, concert halls and theaters in the yellow blaze of gas and the white and violet of electricity.
city
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Somewhere in the city a bell sounded the hour, and with the last stroke the drop curtain fell on the first act of “La Belle Hélène.”
clear
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From this reading Paris lay sparkling under a cold, clear sky.
coiled
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From this reading The brilliant streets lay coiled along the Seine and stretched glittering from bank to bank, from boulevard to boulevard; cafés, brasseries, concert halls and theaters in the yellow blaze of gas and the white and violet of electricity.
cold
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From this reading Paris lay sparkling under a cold, clear sky.
concert
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From this reading The brilliant streets lay coiled along the Seine and stretched glittering from bank to bank, from boulevard to boulevard; cafés, brasseries, concert halls and theaters in the yellow blaze of gas and the white and violet of electricity.
curtain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Somewhere in the city a bell sounded the hour, and with the last stroke the drop curtain fell on the first act of “La Belle Hélène.”
drop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Somewhere in the city a bell sounded the hour, and with the last stroke the drop curtain fell on the first act of “La Belle Hélène.”
electricity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The brilliant streets lay coiled along the Seine and stretched glittering from bank to bank, from boulevard to boulevard; cafés, brasseries, concert halls and theaters in the yellow blaze of gas and the white and violet of electricity.
entered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not late, but people who entered the lobby of the Theater Fauvette turned away before the placard “Standing room only.”
Fauvette
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From this reading It was not late, but people who entered the lobby of the Theater Fauvette turned away before the placard “Standing room only.”
fell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Somewhere in the city a bell sounded the hour, and with the last stroke the drop curtain fell on the first act of “La Belle Hélène.”
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Somewhere in the city a bell sounded the hour, and with the last stroke the drop curtain fell on the first act of “La Belle Hélène.”
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The brilliant streets lay coiled along the Seine and stretched glittering from bank to bank, from boulevard to boulevard; cafés, brasseries, concert halls and theaters in the yellow blaze of gas and the white and violet of electricity.
gas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The brilliant streets lay coiled along the Seine and stretched glittering from bank to bank, from boulevard to boulevard; cafés, brasseries, concert halls and theaters in the yellow blaze of gas and the white and violet of electricity.
glittering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The brilliant streets lay coiled along the Seine and stretched glittering from bank to bank, from boulevard to boulevard; cafés, brasseries, concert halls and theaters in the yellow blaze of gas and the white and violet of electricity.
halls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The brilliant streets lay coiled along the Seine and stretched glittering from bank to bank, from boulevard to boulevard; cafés, brasseries, concert halls and theaters in the yellow blaze of gas and the white and violet of electricity.
hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Somewhere in the city a bell sounded the hour, and with the last stroke the drop curtain fell on the first act of “La Belle Hélène.”
Hélène
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Somewhere in the city a bell sounded the hour, and with the last stroke the drop curtain fell on the first act of “La Belle Hélène.”
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The brilliant streets lay coiled along the Seine and stretched glittering from bank to bank, from boulevard to boulevard; cafés, brasseries, concert halls and theaters in the yellow blaze of gas and the white and violet of electricity.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was not late, but people who entered the lobby of the Theater Fauvette turned away before the placard “Standing room only.”
La
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Somewhere in the city a bell sounded the hour, and with the last stroke the drop curtain fell on the first act of “La Belle Hélène.”
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Somewhere in the city a bell sounded the hour, and with the last stroke the drop curtain fell on the first act of “La Belle Hélène.”
late
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not late, but people who entered the lobby of the Theater Fauvette turned away before the placard “Standing room only.”
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Paris lay sparkling under a cold, clear sky.
led
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It fell amidst a whirlwind of applause, in which the orchestra led.
lobby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not late, but people who entered the lobby of the Theater Fauvette turned away before the placard “Standing room only.”
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not late, but people who entered the lobby of the Theater Fauvette turned away before the placard “Standing room only.”
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The brilliant streets lay coiled along the Seine and stretched glittering from bank to bank, from boulevard to boulevard; cafés, brasseries, concert halls and theaters in the yellow blaze of gas and the white and violet of electricity.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Somewhere in the city a bell sounded the hour, and with the last stroke the drop curtain fell on the first act of “La Belle Hélène.”
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not late, but people who entered the lobby of the Theater Fauvette turned away before the placard “Standing room only.”
orchestra
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It fell amidst a whirlwind of applause, in which the orchestra led.
Paris
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Paris lay sparkling under a cold, clear sky.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not late, but people who entered the lobby of the Theater Fauvette turned away before the placard “Standing room only.”
placard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not late, but people who entered the lobby of the Theater Fauvette turned away before the placard “Standing room only.”
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not late, but people who entered the lobby of the Theater Fauvette turned away before the placard “Standing room only.”
Seine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The brilliant streets lay coiled along the Seine and stretched glittering from bank to bank, from boulevard to boulevard; cafés, brasseries, concert halls and theaters in the yellow blaze of gas and the white and violet of electricity.
sky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Paris lay sparkling under a cold, clear sky.
Somewhere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Somewhere in the city a bell sounded the hour, and with the last stroke the drop curtain fell on the first act of “La Belle Hélène.”
sounded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Somewhere in the city a bell sounded the hour, and with the last stroke the drop curtain fell on the first act of “La Belle Hélène.”
sparkling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Paris lay sparkling under a cold, clear sky.
StandingnounUS /ˈstanding/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It was not late, but people who entered the lobby of the Theater Fauvette turned away before the placard “Standing room only.”
streets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The brilliant streets lay coiled along the Seine and stretched glittering from bank to bank, from boulevard to boulevard; cafés, brasseries, concert halls and theaters in the yellow blaze of gas and the white and violet of electricity.
stretched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The brilliant streets lay coiled along the Seine and stretched glittering from bank to bank, from boulevard to boulevard; cafés, brasseries, concert halls and theaters in the yellow blaze of gas and the white and violet of electricity.
stroke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Somewhere in the city a bell sounded the hour, and with the last stroke the drop curtain fell on the first act of “La Belle Hélène.”
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The brilliant streets lay coiled along the Seine and stretched glittering from bank to bank, from boulevard to boulevard; cafés, brasseries, concert halls and theaters in the yellow blaze of gas and the white and violet of electricity.
Theater
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not late, but people who entered the lobby of the Theater Fauvette turned away before the placard “Standing room only.”
theaters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The brilliant streets lay coiled along the Seine and stretched glittering from bank to bank, from boulevard to boulevard; cafés, brasseries, concert halls and theaters in the yellow blaze of gas and the white and violet of electricity.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The brilliant streets lay coiled along the Seine and stretched glittering from bank to bank, from boulevard to boulevard; cafés, brasseries, concert halls and theaters in the yellow blaze of gas and the white and violet of electricity.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not late, but people who entered the lobby of the Theater Fauvette turned away before the placard “Standing room only.”
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Paris lay sparkling under a cold, clear sky.
violet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The brilliant streets lay coiled along the Seine and stretched glittering from bank to bank, from boulevard to boulevard; cafés, brasseries, concert halls and theaters in the yellow blaze of gas and the white and violet of electricity.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was not late, but people who entered the lobby of the Theater Fauvette turned away before the placard “Standing room only.”
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It fell amidst a whirlwind of applause, in which the orchestra led.
whirlwind
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It fell amidst a whirlwind of applause, in which the orchestra led.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The brilliant streets lay coiled along the Seine and stretched glittering from bank to bank, from boulevard to boulevard; cafés, brasseries, concert halls and theaters in the yellow blaze of gas and the white and violet of electricity.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading It was not late, but people who entered the lobby of the Theater Fauvette turned away before the placard “Standing room only.”
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Somewhere in the city a bell sounded the hour, and with the last stroke the drop curtain fell on the first act of “La Belle Hélène.”
yellow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The brilliant streets lay coiled along the Seine and stretched glittering from bank to bank, from boulevard to boulevard; cafés, brasseries, concert halls and theaters in the yellow blaze of gas and the white and violet of electricity.
