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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 Durtal was in a situation familiar to all bachelors who have the concierge do their cleaning.
all
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From this reading Durtal was in a situation familiar to all bachelors who have the concierge do their cleaning.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Durtal's concierge was an old man with drooping moustache and a powerful breath of "three-six."
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They learn to be resigned and to wash out a glass when they are thirsty and make their own fire when they are cold.
bachelors
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From this reading Durtal was in a situation familiar to all bachelors who have the concierge do their cleaning.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They learn to be resigned and to wash out a glass when they are thirsty and make their own fire when they are cold.
become
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
bed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They know, too, how a once comfortable bed can become forbidding, and how scrupulously a concierge can respect its least fold or crease.
bottle
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From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
breath
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From this reading Durtal's concierge was an old man with drooping moustache and a powerful breath of "three-six."
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
cleaning
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From this reading Durtal was in a situation familiar to all bachelors who have the concierge do their cleaning.
cognac
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From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
cold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They learn to be resigned and to wash out a glass when they are thirsty and make their own fire when they are cold.
comfortable
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From this reading They know, too, how a once comfortable bed can become forbidding, and how scrupulously a concierge can respect its least fold or crease.
concierge
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From this reading Durtal was in a situation familiar to all bachelors who have the concierge do their cleaning.
contents
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From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
crease
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From this reading They know, too, how a once comfortable bed can become forbidding, and how scrupulously a concierge can respect its least fold or crease.
diminishing
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From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Durtal was in a situation familiar to all bachelors who have the concierge do their cleaning.
drink
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
drooping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Durtal's concierge was an old man with drooping moustache and a powerful breath of "three-six."
Durtal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Durtal was in a situation familiar to all bachelors who have the concierge do their cleaning.
Durtal's
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From this reading Durtal's concierge was an old man with drooping moustache and a powerful breath of "three-six."
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
fairly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
familiar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Durtal was in a situation familiar to all bachelors who have the concierge do their cleaning.
fire
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From this reading They learn to be resigned and to wash out a glass when they are thirsty and make their own fire when they are cold.
fold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They know, too, how a once comfortable bed can become forbidding, and how scrupulously a concierge can respect its least fold or crease.
forbidding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They know, too, how a once comfortable bed can become forbidding, and how scrupulously a concierge can respect its least fold or crease.
glass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They learn to be resigned and to wash out a glass when they are thirsty and make their own fire when they are cold.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Durtal was in a situation familiar to all bachelors who have the concierge do their cleaning.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Durtal was in a situation familiar to all bachelors who have the concierge do their cleaning.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading They know, too, how a once comfortable bed can become forbidding, and how scrupulously a concierge can respect its least fold or crease.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
lamp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
learn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They learn to be resigned and to wash out a glass when they are thirsty and make their own fire when they are cold.
leastnounUS /least/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They know, too, how a once comfortable bed can become forbidding, and how scrupulously a concierge can respect its least fold or crease.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They learn to be resigned and to wash out a glass when they are thirsty and make their own fire when they are cold.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Durtal's concierge was an old man with drooping moustache and a powerful breath of "three-six."
moustache
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Durtal's concierge was an old man with drooping moustache and a powerful breath of "three-six."
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
oilnounUS /ɔɪl/
A viscous liquid derived from petroleum or plants, stored in large earthen jars.
From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Durtal's concierge was an old man with drooping moustache and a powerful breath of "three-six."
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They know, too, how a once comfortable bed can become forbidding, and how scrupulously a concierge can respect its least fold or crease.
Only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading They know, too, how a once comfortable bed can become forbidding, and how scrupulously a concierge can respect its least fold or crease.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They learn to be resigned and to wash out a glass when they are thirsty and make their own fire when they are cold.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They learn to be resigned and to wash out a glass when they are thirsty and make their own fire when they are cold.
paler
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
powerful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Durtal's concierge was an old man with drooping moustache and a powerful breath of "three-six."
resigned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They learn to be resigned and to wash out a glass when they are thirsty and make their own fire when they are cold.
respect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They know, too, how a once comfortable bed can become forbidding, and how scrupulously a concierge can respect its least fold or crease.
scrupulously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They know, too, how a once comfortable bed can become forbidding, and how scrupulously a concierge can respect its least fold or crease.
situation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Durtal was in a situation familiar to all bachelors who have the concierge do their cleaning.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Durtal was in a situation familiar to all bachelors who have the concierge do their cleaning.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Durtal was in a situation familiar to all bachelors who have the concierge do their cleaning.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They know, too, how a once comfortable bed can become forbidding, and how scrupulously a concierge can respect its least fold or crease.
thirsty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They learn to be resigned and to wash out a glass when they are thirsty and make their own fire when they are cold.
three-six
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Durtal's concierge was an old man with drooping moustache and a powerful breath of "three-six."
tiny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Durtal was in a situation familiar to all bachelors who have the concierge do their cleaning.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They know, too, how a once comfortable bed can become forbidding, and how scrupulously a concierge can respect its least fold or crease.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Durtal was in a situation familiar to all bachelors who have the concierge do their cleaning.
wash
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They learn to be resigned and to wash out a glass when they are thirsty and make their own fire when they are cold.
weaker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading They learn to be resigned and to wash out a glass when they are thirsty and make their own fire when they are cold.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Durtal was in a situation familiar to all bachelors who have the concierge do their cleaning.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Durtal's concierge was an old man with drooping moustache and a powerful breath of "three-six."
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Only these know how a tiny lamp can fairly drink up oil, and how the contents of a bottle of cognac can become paler and weaker without ever diminishing.
