adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading ‘Late in the evening I entered his study, after traversing an imposing but empty dining-room very dimly lit.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading ‘Late in the evening I entered his study, after traversing an imposing but empty dining-room very dimly lit.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
asideadverbUS /əˈsaɪd/
on or to one side
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading ‘Late in the evening I entered his study, after traversing an imposing but empty dining-room very dimly lit.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
chairnounUS /tʃer/
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Stein turned round with the chair, and in the same movement his spectacles seemed to get pushed up on his forehead.
dimlyadverbUS /ˈdɪmli/
in a dim indistinct manner
From this reading ‘Late in the evening I entered his study, after traversing an imposing but empty dining-room very dimly lit.
dining-roomnoun
a room used for dining
From this reading ‘Late in the evening I entered his study, after traversing an imposing but empty dining-room very dimly lit.
doornounUS /dɔːr/
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
elderlyadjectiveUS /ˈeldərli/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
embodiedadjectiveUS /ɪmˈbɑːdid/
possessing or existing in bodily form
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
emptyverbUS /ˈempti/
make void or empty of contents
From this reading ‘Late in the evening I entered his study, after traversing an imposing but empty dining-room very dimly lit.
enteredverbUS /ˈentərd/
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading ‘Late in the evening I entered his study, after traversing an imposing but empty dining-room very dimly lit.
eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading ‘Late in the evening I entered his study, after traversing an imposing but empty dining-room very dimly lit.
exclaimedverbUS /ɪkˈskleɪmd/
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
foreheadnounUS /ˈfɔːrhed/
the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading Stein turned round with the chair, and in the same movement his spectacles seemed to get pushed up on his forehead.
getverbUS /ɡet/
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Stein turned round with the chair, and in the same movement his spectacles seemed to get pushed up on his forehead.
ghostnounUS /ɡoʊst/
a mental representation of some haunting experience
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
grimadjectiveUS /ɡrɪm/
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading ‘Late in the evening I entered his study, after traversing an imposing but empty dining-room very dimly lit.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The house was silent.
humorousadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmərəs/
full of or characterized by humor
From this reading He welcomed me in his quiet and humorous voice.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading ‘Late in the evening I entered his study, after traversing an imposing but empty dining-room very dimly lit.
imposingadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpoʊzɪŋ/
impressive in appearance
From this reading ‘Late in the evening I entered his study, after traversing an imposing but empty dining-room very dimly lit.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ‘Late in the evening I entered his study, after traversing an imposing but empty dining-room very dimly lit.
jacketnounUS /ˈdʒækət/
a short coat
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
JavanesenounUS /ˌdʒɑːvəˈniːz/
a native or inhabitant of Java
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
LateadjectiveUS /leɪt/
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading ‘Late in the evening I entered his study, after traversing an imposing but empty dining-room very dimly lit.
litadjectiveUS /lɪt/
provided with artificial light
From this reading ‘Late in the evening I entered his study, after traversing an imposing but empty dining-room very dimly lit.
liverynounUS /ˈlɪvəri/
uniform worn by some menservants and chauffeurs
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
lowadjectiveUS /loʊ/
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
masternounUS /ˈmæstər/
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He welcomed me in his quiet and humorous voice.
momentarilyadverbUS /ˌmoʊmənˈterəli/
for an instant or moment
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
movementnounUS /ˈmuːvmənt/
a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading Stein turned round with the chair, and in the same movement his spectacles seemed to get pushed up on his forehead.
mysteriousadjectiveUS /mɪˈstɪriəs/
of an obscure nature
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
OnounUS /oʊ/
a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Stein turned round with the chair, and in the same movement his spectacles seemed to get pushed up on his forehead.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
particularadjectiveUS /pərˈtɪkjələr/
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
precededverbUS /prɪˈsiːdɪd/
past form of “precede” — be earlier in time; go back further
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
pushedverbUS /pʊʃt/
past form of “push” — move with force
From this reading Stein turned round with the chair, and in the same movement his spectacles seemed to get pushed up on his forehead.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading He welcomed me in his quiet and humorous voice.
roundnounUS /raʊnd/
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Stein turned round with the chair, and in the same movement his spectacles seemed to get pushed up on his forehead.
sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/
Identical; not different.
From this reading Stein turned round with the chair, and in the same movement his spectacles seemed to get pushed up on his forehead.
sarongnounUS /sərˈɔːŋ/
a loose skirt consisting of brightly colored fabric wrapped around the body; worn by both women and men in the South Pacific
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Stein turned round with the chair, and in the same movement his spectacles seemed to get pushed up on his forehead.
servantnounUS /ˈsɜːrvənt/
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
servicenounUS /ˈsɜːrvəs/
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
silentadjectiveUS /ˈsaɪlənt/
marked by absence of sound
From this reading The house was silent.
sortnounUS /sɔːrt/
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
spectaclesnounUS /ˈspektəkəlz/
(plural) optical instrument consisting of a frame that holds a pair of lenses for correcting defective vision
From this reading Stein turned round with the chair, and in the same movement his spectacles seemed to get pushed up on his forehead.
SteinnounUS /staɪn/
a mug intended for serving beer
From this reading Stein turned round with the chair, and in the same movement his spectacles seemed to get pushed up on his forehead.
steppingverbUS /ˈstepɪŋ/
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
studynounUS /ˈstʌdi/
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading ‘Late in the evening I entered his study, after traversing an imposing but empty dining-room very dimly lit.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ‘Late in the evening I entered his study, after traversing an imposing but empty dining-room very dimly lit.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
throwingverbUS /ˈθroʊɪŋ/
-ing form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Stein turned round with the chair, and in the same movement his spectacles seemed to get pushed up on his forehead.
traversingverbUS /trəˈvɜːrsɪŋ/
-ing form of “traverse” — travel across or pass over
From this reading ‘Late in the evening I entered his study, after traversing an imposing but empty dining-room very dimly lit.
turnedadjectiveUS /tɜːrnd/
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Stein turned round with the chair, and in the same movement his spectacles seemed to get pushed up on his forehead.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Stein turned round with the chair, and in the same movement his spectacles seemed to get pushed up on his forehead.
vanishedadjectiveUS /ˈvænɪʃt/
having passed out of existence
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading ‘Late in the evening I entered his study, after traversing an imposing but empty dining-room very dimly lit.
voicenounUS /vɔɪs/
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading He welcomed me in his quiet and humorous voice.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The house was silent.
waynounUS /weɪ/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
welcomedverbUS /ˈwelkəmd/
past form of “welcome” — accept gladly
From this reading He welcomed me in his quiet and humorous voice.
whitenounUS /waɪt/
a Caucasian
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Stein turned round with the chair, and in the same movement his spectacles seemed to get pushed up on his forehead.
yellowadjectiveUS /ˈjeloʊ/
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading I was preceded by an elderly grim Javanese servant in a sort of livery of white jacket and yellow sarong, who, after throwing the door open, exclaimed low, “O master!” and stepping aside, vanished in a mysterious way as though he had been a ghost only momentarily embodied for that particular service.
