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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 A knife with a speck on the blade, a plate with a suspicion of dirt on it, never once succeeded in escaping her observation.
always
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From this reading As the presiding genius of the household, Madame Fontaine was always first in the room when the table was laid for the early German dinner.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On the second day of the New Year, she was at her post as usual, and Joseph stood convicted of being wasteful in the matter of wine.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As the presiding genius of the household, Madame Fontaine was always first in the room when the table was laid for the early German dinner.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading On the second day of the New Year, she was at her post as usual, and Joseph stood convicted of being wasteful in the matter of wine.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading On the second day of the New Year, she was at her post as usual, and Joseph stood convicted of being wasteful in the matter of wine.
blade
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From this reading A knife with a speck on the blade, a plate with a suspicion of dirt on it, never once succeeded in escaping her observation.
bottle
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From this reading He had put one bottle of Ohligsberger on the table, at the place occupied by Madame Fontaine.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading If Joseph folded a napkin carelessly, Joseph not only heard of it, but suffered the indignity of seeing his work performed for him to perfection by the housekeeper's dexterous hands.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading If Joseph folded a napkin carelessly, Joseph not only heard of it, but suffered the indignity of seeing his work performed for him to perfection by the housekeeper's dexterous hands.
carelessly
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From this reading If Joseph folded a napkin carelessly, Joseph not only heard of it, but suffered the indignity of seeing his work performed for him to perfection by the housekeeper's dexterous hands.
convicted
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From this reading On the second day of the New Year, she was at her post as usual, and Joseph stood convicted of being wasteful in the matter of wine.
day
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From this reading On the second day of the New Year, she was at her post as usual, and Joseph stood convicted of being wasteful in the matter of wine.
dexterous
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From this reading If Joseph folded a napkin carelessly, Joseph not only heard of it, but suffered the indignity of seeing his work performed for him to perfection by the housekeeper's dexterous hands.
dinner
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From this reading As the presiding genius of the household, Madame Fontaine was always first in the room when the table was laid for the early German dinner.
dirt
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From this reading A knife with a speck on the blade, a plate with a suspicion of dirt on it, never once succeeded in escaping her observation.
early
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From this reading As the presiding genius of the household, Madame Fontaine was always first in the room when the table was laid for the early German dinner.
escaping
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From this reading A knife with a speck on the blade, a plate with a suspicion of dirt on it, never once succeeded in escaping her observation.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As the presiding genius of the household, Madame Fontaine was always first in the room when the table was laid for the early German dinner.
folded
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From this reading If Joseph folded a napkin carelessly, Joseph not only heard of it, but suffered the indignity of seeing his work performed for him to perfection by the housekeeper's dexterous hands.
Fontaine
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From this reading As the presiding genius of the household, Madame Fontaine was always first in the room when the table was laid for the early German dinner.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading As the presiding genius of the household, Madame Fontaine was always first in the room when the table was laid for the early German dinner.
genius
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From this reading As the presiding genius of the household, Madame Fontaine was always first in the room when the table was laid for the early German dinner.
German
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From this reading As the presiding genius of the household, Madame Fontaine was always first in the room when the table was laid for the early German dinner.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had put one bottle of Ohligsberger on the table, at the place occupied by Madame Fontaine.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading If Joseph folded a napkin carelessly, Joseph not only heard of it, but suffered the indignity of seeing his work performed for him to perfection by the housekeeper's dexterous hands.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had put one bottle of Ohligsberger on the table, at the place occupied by Madame Fontaine.
heard
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From this reading If Joseph folded a napkin carelessly, Joseph not only heard of it, but suffered the indignity of seeing his work performed for him to perfection by the housekeeper's dexterous hands.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A knife with a speck on the blade, a plate with a suspicion of dirt on it, never once succeeded in escaping her observation.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading If Joseph folded a napkin carelessly, Joseph not only heard of it, but suffered the indignity of seeing his work performed for him to perfection by the housekeeper's dexterous hands.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading If Joseph folded a napkin carelessly, Joseph not only heard of it, but suffered the indignity of seeing his work performed for him to perfection by the housekeeper's dexterous hands.
household
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the presiding genius of the household, Madame Fontaine was always first in the room when the table was laid for the early German dinner.
housekeeper's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Joseph folded a napkin carelessly, Joseph not only heard of it, but suffered the indignity of seeing his work performed for him to perfection by the housekeeper's dexterous hands.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If Joseph folded a napkin carelessly, Joseph not only heard of it, but suffered the indignity of seeing his work performed for him to perfection by the housekeeper's dexterous hands.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As the presiding genius of the household, Madame Fontaine was always first in the room when the table was laid for the early German dinner.
indignity
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From this reading If Joseph folded a napkin carelessly, Joseph not only heard of it, but suffered the indignity of seeing his work performed for him to perfection by the housekeeper's dexterous hands.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A knife with a speck on the blade, a plate with a suspicion of dirt on it, never once succeeded in escaping her observation.
Joseph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Joseph folded a napkin carelessly, Joseph not only heard of it, but suffered the indignity of seeing his work performed for him to perfection by the housekeeper's dexterous hands.
knife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A knife with a speck on the blade, a plate with a suspicion of dirt on it, never once succeeded in escaping her observation.
laid
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From this reading As the presiding genius of the household, Madame Fontaine was always first in the room when the table was laid for the early German dinner.
Madame
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From this reading As the presiding genius of the household, Madame Fontaine was always first in the room when the table was laid for the early German dinner.
matter
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From this reading On the second day of the New Year, she was at her post as usual, and Joseph stood convicted of being wasteful in the matter of wine.
napkin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Joseph folded a napkin carelessly, Joseph not only heard of it, but suffered the indignity of seeing his work performed for him to perfection by the housekeeper's dexterous hands.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A knife with a speck on the blade, a plate with a suspicion of dirt on it, never once succeeded in escaping her observation.
New
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the second day of the New Year, she was at her post as usual, and Joseph stood convicted of being wasteful in the matter of wine.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading If Joseph folded a napkin carelessly, Joseph not only heard of it, but suffered the indignity of seeing his work performed for him to perfection by the housekeeper's dexterous hands.
observationnounUS /ˈobservation/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading A knife with a speck on the blade, a plate with a suspicion of dirt on it, never once succeeded in escaping her observation.
occupied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had put one bottle of Ohligsberger on the table, at the place occupied by Madame Fontaine.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As the presiding genius of the household, Madame Fontaine was always first in the room when the table was laid for the early German dinner.
Ohligsberger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had put one bottle of Ohligsberger on the table, at the place occupied by Madame Fontaine.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A knife with a speck on the blade, a plate with a suspicion of dirt on it, never once succeeded in escaping her observation.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A knife with a speck on the blade, a plate with a suspicion of dirt on it, never once succeeded in escaping her observation.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He had put one bottle of Ohligsberger on the table, at the place occupied by Madame Fontaine.
only
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From this reading If Joseph folded a napkin carelessly, Joseph not only heard of it, but suffered the indignity of seeing his work performed for him to perfection by the housekeeper's dexterous hands.
perfection
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From this reading If Joseph folded a napkin carelessly, Joseph not only heard of it, but suffered the indignity of seeing his work performed for him to perfection by the housekeeper's dexterous hands.
performed
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From this reading If Joseph folded a napkin carelessly, Joseph not only heard of it, but suffered the indignity of seeing his work performed for him to perfection by the housekeeper's dexterous hands.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had put one bottle of Ohligsberger on the table, at the place occupied by Madame Fontaine.
plate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A knife with a speck on the blade, a plate with a suspicion of dirt on it, never once succeeded in escaping her observation.
post
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the second day of the New Year, she was at her post as usual, and Joseph stood convicted of being wasteful in the matter of wine.
presiding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the presiding genius of the household, Madame Fontaine was always first in the room when the table was laid for the early German dinner.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had put one bottle of Ohligsberger on the table, at the place occupied by Madame Fontaine.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the presiding genius of the household, Madame Fontaine was always first in the room when the table was laid for the early German dinner.
second
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the second day of the New Year, she was at her post as usual, and Joseph stood convicted of being wasteful in the matter of wine.
seeing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Joseph folded a napkin carelessly, Joseph not only heard of it, but suffered the indignity of seeing his work performed for him to perfection by the housekeeper's dexterous hands.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading On the second day of the New Year, she was at her post as usual, and Joseph stood convicted of being wasteful in the matter of wine.
speck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A knife with a speck on the blade, a plate with a suspicion of dirt on it, never once succeeded in escaping her observation.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading On the second day of the New Year, she was at her post as usual, and Joseph stood convicted of being wasteful in the matter of wine.
succeeded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A knife with a speck on the blade, a plate with a suspicion of dirt on it, never once succeeded in escaping her observation.
suffered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Joseph folded a napkin carelessly, Joseph not only heard of it, but suffered the indignity of seeing his work performed for him to perfection by the housekeeper's dexterous hands.
suspicion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A knife with a speck on the blade, a plate with a suspicion of dirt on it, never once succeeded in escaping her observation.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the presiding genius of the household, Madame Fontaine was always first in the room when the table was laid for the early German dinner.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As the presiding genius of the household, Madame Fontaine was always first in the room when the table was laid for the early German dinner.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading If Joseph folded a napkin carelessly, Joseph not only heard of it, but suffered the indignity of seeing his work performed for him to perfection by the housekeeper's dexterous hands.
usual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the second day of the New Year, she was at her post as usual, and Joseph stood convicted of being wasteful in the matter of wine.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading As the presiding genius of the household, Madame Fontaine was always first in the room when the table was laid for the early German dinner.
wasteful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the second day of the New Year, she was at her post as usual, and Joseph stood convicted of being wasteful in the matter of wine.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading As the presiding genius of the household, Madame Fontaine was always first in the room when the table was laid for the early German dinner.
wine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the second day of the New Year, she was at her post as usual, and Joseph stood convicted of being wasteful in the matter of wine.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading A knife with a speck on the blade, a plate with a suspicion of dirt on it, never once succeeded in escaping her observation.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Joseph folded a napkin carelessly, Joseph not only heard of it, but suffered the indignity of seeing his work performed for him to perfection by the housekeeper's dexterous hands.
Year
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the second day of the New Year, she was at her post as usual, and Joseph stood convicted of being wasteful in the matter of wine.
