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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 He was an inch, perhaps two, under six feet, powerfully built, and he advanced straight at you with a slight stoop of the shoulders, head forward, and a fixed from-under stare which made you think of a charging bull.
Ability
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A water-clerk need not pass an examination in anything under the sun, but he must have Ability in the abstract and demonstrate it practically.
abstract
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From this reading A water-clerk need not pass an examination in anything under the sun, but he must have Ability in the abstract and demonstrate it practically.
advanced
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From this reading He was an inch, perhaps two, under six feet, powerfully built, and he advanced straight at you with a slight stoop of the shoulders, head forward, and a fixed from-under stare which made you think of a charging bull.
aggressive
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From this reading His voice was deep, loud, and his manner displayed a kind of dogged self-assertion which had nothing aggressive in it.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He was an inch, perhaps two, under six feet, powerfully built, and he advanced straight at you with a slight stoop of the shoulders, head forward, and a fixed from-under stare which made you think of a charging bull.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was an inch, perhaps two, under six feet, powerfully built, and he advanced straight at you with a slight stoop of the shoulders, head forward, and a fixed from-under stare which made you think of a charging bull.
anybodypronounUS /ˈenibədi/
any person at all
From this reading It seemed a necessity, and it was directed apparently as much at himself as at anybody else.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading A water-clerk need not pass an examination in anything under the sun, but he must have Ability in the abstract and demonstrate it practically.
apparelled
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From this reading He was spotlessly neat, apparelled in immaculate white from shoes to hat, and in the various Eastern ports where he got his living as ship-chandler’s water-clerk he was very popular.
apparently
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From this reading It seemed a necessity, and it was directed apparently as much at himself as at anybody else.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It seemed a necessity, and it was directed apparently as much at himself as at anybody else.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He was an inch, perhaps two, under six feet, powerfully built, and he advanced straight at you with a slight stoop of the shoulders, head forward, and a fixed from-under stare which made you think of a charging bull.
built
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was an inch, perhaps two, under six feet, powerfully built, and he advanced straight at you with a slight stoop of the shoulders, head forward, and a fixed from-under stare which made you think of a charging bull.
bull
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was an inch, perhaps two, under six feet, powerfully built, and he advanced straight at you with a slight stoop of the shoulders, head forward, and a fixed from-under stare which made you think of a charging bull.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A water-clerk need not pass an examination in anything under the sun, but he must have Ability in the abstract and demonstrate it practically.
charging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was an inch, perhaps two, under six feet, powerfully built, and he advanced straight at you with a slight stoop of the shoulders, head forward, and a fixed from-under stare which made you think of a charging bull.
deep
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From this reading His voice was deep, loud, and his manner displayed a kind of dogged self-assertion which had nothing aggressive in it.
demonstrate
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From this reading A water-clerk need not pass an examination in anything under the sun, but he must have Ability in the abstract and demonstrate it practically.
directed
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From this reading It seemed a necessity, and it was directed apparently as much at himself as at anybody else.
displayed
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From this reading His voice was deep, loud, and his manner displayed a kind of dogged self-assertion which had nothing aggressive in it.
dogged
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From this reading His voice was deep, loud, and his manner displayed a kind of dogged self-assertion which had nothing aggressive in it.
Eastern
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From this reading He was spotlessly neat, apparelled in immaculate white from shoes to hat, and in the various Eastern ports where he got his living as ship-chandler’s water-clerk he was very popular.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed a necessity, and it was directed apparently as much at himself as at anybody else.
examination
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A water-clerk need not pass an examination in anything under the sun, but he must have Ability in the abstract and demonstrate it practically.
feet
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From this reading He was an inch, perhaps two, under six feet, powerfully built, and he advanced straight at you with a slight stoop of the shoulders, head forward, and a fixed from-under stare which made you think of a charging bull.
fixed
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From this reading He was an inch, perhaps two, under six feet, powerfully built, and he advanced straight at you with a slight stoop of the shoulders, head forward, and a fixed from-under stare which made you think of a charging bull.
forwardnounUS /forward/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was an inch, perhaps two, under six feet, powerfully built, and he advanced straight at you with a slight stoop of the shoulders, head forward, and a fixed from-under stare which made you think of a charging bull.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He was spotlessly neat, apparelled in immaculate white from shoes to hat, and in the various Eastern ports where he got his living as ship-chandler’s water-clerk he was very popular.
from-under
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was an inch, perhaps two, under six feet, powerfully built, and he advanced straight at you with a slight stoop of the shoulders, head forward, and a fixed from-under stare which made you think of a charging bull.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was spotlessly neat, apparelled in immaculate white from shoes to hat, and in the various Eastern ports where he got his living as ship-chandler’s water-clerk he was very popular.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His voice was deep, loud, and his manner displayed a kind of dogged self-assertion which had nothing aggressive in it.
hat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was spotlessly neat, apparelled in immaculate white from shoes to hat, and in the various Eastern ports where he got his living as ship-chandler’s water-clerk he was very popular.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A water-clerk need not pass an examination in anything under the sun, but he must have Ability in the abstract and demonstrate it practically.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was an inch, perhaps two, under six feet, powerfully built, and he advanced straight at you with a slight stoop of the shoulders, head forward, and a fixed from-under stare which made you think of a charging bull.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was an inch, perhaps two, under six feet, powerfully built, and he advanced straight at you with a slight stoop of the shoulders, head forward, and a fixed from-under stare which made you think of a charging bull.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading It seemed a necessity, and it was directed apparently as much at himself as at anybody else.
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His voice was deep, loud, and his manner displayed a kind of dogged self-assertion which had nothing aggressive in it.
immaculate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was spotlessly neat, apparelled in immaculate white from shoes to hat, and in the various Eastern ports where he got his living as ship-chandler’s water-clerk he was very popular.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His voice was deep, loud, and his manner displayed a kind of dogged self-assertion which had nothing aggressive in it.
inch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was an inch, perhaps two, under six feet, powerfully built, and he advanced straight at you with a slight stoop of the shoulders, head forward, and a fixed from-under stare which made you think of a charging bull.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading His voice was deep, loud, and his manner displayed a kind of dogged self-assertion which had nothing aggressive in it.
kind
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From this reading His voice was deep, loud, and his manner displayed a kind of dogged self-assertion which had nothing aggressive in it.
living
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was spotlessly neat, apparelled in immaculate white from shoes to hat, and in the various Eastern ports where he got his living as ship-chandler’s water-clerk he was very popular.
loud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His voice was deep, loud, and his manner displayed a kind of dogged self-assertion which had nothing aggressive in it.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was an inch, perhaps two, under six feet, powerfully built, and he advanced straight at you with a slight stoop of the shoulders, head forward, and a fixed from-under stare which made you think of a charging bull.
manner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His voice was deep, loud, and his manner displayed a kind of dogged self-assertion which had nothing aggressive in it.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed a necessity, and it was directed apparently as much at himself as at anybody else.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading A water-clerk need not pass an examination in anything under the sun, but he must have Ability in the abstract and demonstrate it practically.
neat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was spotlessly neat, apparelled in immaculate white from shoes to hat, and in the various Eastern ports where he got his living as ship-chandler’s water-clerk he was very popular.
necessity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed a necessity, and it was directed apparently as much at himself as at anybody else.
neednounUS /need/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A water-clerk need not pass an examination in anything under the sun, but he must have Ability in the abstract and demonstrate it practically.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A water-clerk need not pass an examination in anything under the sun, but he must have Ability in the abstract and demonstrate it practically.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading His voice was deep, loud, and his manner displayed a kind of dogged self-assertion which had nothing aggressive in it.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was an inch, perhaps two, under six feet, powerfully built, and he advanced straight at you with a slight stoop of the shoulders, head forward, and a fixed from-under stare which made you think of a charging bull.
pass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A water-clerk need not pass an examination in anything under the sun, but he must have Ability in the abstract and demonstrate it practically.
perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was an inch, perhaps two, under six feet, powerfully built, and he advanced straight at you with a slight stoop of the shoulders, head forward, and a fixed from-under stare which made you think of a charging bull.
popular
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was spotlessly neat, apparelled in immaculate white from shoes to hat, and in the various Eastern ports where he got his living as ship-chandler’s water-clerk he was very popular.
ports
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was spotlessly neat, apparelled in immaculate white from shoes to hat, and in the various Eastern ports where he got his living as ship-chandler’s water-clerk he was very popular.
powerfully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was an inch, perhaps two, under six feet, powerfully built, and he advanced straight at you with a slight stoop of the shoulders, head forward, and a fixed from-under stare which made you think of a charging bull.
practically
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A water-clerk need not pass an examination in anything under the sun, but he must have Ability in the abstract and demonstrate it practically.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seemed a necessity, and it was directed apparently as much at himself as at anybody else.
self-assertion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His voice was deep, loud, and his manner displayed a kind of dogged self-assertion which had nothing aggressive in it.
ship-chandler's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was spotlessly neat, apparelled in immaculate white from shoes to hat, and in the various Eastern ports where he got his living as ship-chandler’s water-clerk he was very popular.
shoes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was spotlessly neat, apparelled in immaculate white from shoes to hat, and in the various Eastern ports where he got his living as ship-chandler’s water-clerk he was very popular.
shoulders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was an inch, perhaps two, under six feet, powerfully built, and he advanced straight at you with a slight stoop of the shoulders, head forward, and a fixed from-under stare which made you think of a charging bull.
six
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was an inch, perhaps two, under six feet, powerfully built, and he advanced straight at you with a slight stoop of the shoulders, head forward, and a fixed from-under stare which made you think of a charging bull.
slight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was an inch, perhaps two, under six feet, powerfully built, and he advanced straight at you with a slight stoop of the shoulders, head forward, and a fixed from-under stare which made you think of a charging bull.
spotlessly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was spotlessly neat, apparelled in immaculate white from shoes to hat, and in the various Eastern ports where he got his living as ship-chandler’s water-clerk he was very popular.
stare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was an inch, perhaps two, under six feet, powerfully built, and he advanced straight at you with a slight stoop of the shoulders, head forward, and a fixed from-under stare which made you think of a charging bull.
stoop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was an inch, perhaps two, under six feet, powerfully built, and he advanced straight at you with a slight stoop of the shoulders, head forward, and a fixed from-under stare which made you think of a charging bull.
straight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was an inch, perhaps two, under six feet, powerfully built, and he advanced straight at you with a slight stoop of the shoulders, head forward, and a fixed from-under stare which made you think of a charging bull.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A water-clerk need not pass an examination in anything under the sun, but he must have Ability in the abstract and demonstrate it practically.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He was an inch, perhaps two, under six feet, powerfully built, and he advanced straight at you with a slight stoop of the shoulders, head forward, and a fixed from-under stare which made you think of a charging bull.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was an inch, perhaps two, under six feet, powerfully built, and he advanced straight at you with a slight stoop of the shoulders, head forward, and a fixed from-under stare which made you think of a charging bull.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was spotlessly neat, apparelled in immaculate white from shoes to hat, and in the various Eastern ports where he got his living as ship-chandler’s water-clerk he was very popular.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was an inch, perhaps two, under six feet, powerfully built, and he advanced straight at you with a slight stoop of the shoulders, head forward, and a fixed from-under stare which made you think of a charging bull.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading He was an inch, perhaps two, under six feet, powerfully built, and he advanced straight at you with a slight stoop of the shoulders, head forward, and a fixed from-under stare which made you think of a charging bull.
various
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was spotlessly neat, apparelled in immaculate white from shoes to hat, and in the various Eastern ports where he got his living as ship-chandler’s water-clerk he was very popular.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was spotlessly neat, apparelled in immaculate white from shoes to hat, and in the various Eastern ports where he got his living as ship-chandler’s water-clerk he was very popular.
voice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His voice was deep, loud, and his manner displayed a kind of dogged self-assertion which had nothing aggressive in it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was an inch, perhaps two, under six feet, powerfully built, and he advanced straight at you with a slight stoop of the shoulders, head forward, and a fixed from-under stare which made you think of a charging bull.
water-clerk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was spotlessly neat, apparelled in immaculate white from shoes to hat, and in the various Eastern ports where he got his living as ship-chandler’s water-clerk he was very popular.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading He was spotlessly neat, apparelled in immaculate white from shoes to hat, and in the various Eastern ports where he got his living as ship-chandler’s water-clerk he was very popular.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He was an inch, perhaps two, under six feet, powerfully built, and he advanced straight at you with a slight stoop of the shoulders, head forward, and a fixed from-under stare which made you think of a charging bull.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was spotlessly neat, apparelled in immaculate white from shoes to hat, and in the various Eastern ports where he got his living as ship-chandler’s water-clerk he was very popular.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was an inch, perhaps two, under six feet, powerfully built, and he advanced straight at you with a slight stoop of the shoulders, head forward, and a fixed from-under stare which made you think of a charging bull.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading He was an inch, perhaps two, under six feet, powerfully built, and he advanced straight at you with a slight stoop of the shoulders, head forward, and a fixed from-under stare which made you think of a charging bull.
