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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 As Martin cut the cords of the express package and the half-dozen complimentary copies from the publishers spilled out on the table, a heavy sadness fell upon him.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As Martin cut the cords of the express package and the half-dozen complimentary copies from the publishers spilled out on the table, a heavy sadness fell upon him.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As Martin cut the cords of the express package and the half-dozen complimentary copies from the publishers spilled out on the table, a heavy sadness fell upon him.
beat
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From this reading His book, his first book, and his pulse had not gone up a fraction of a beat, and he was only sad.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He thought of the wild delight that would have been his had this happened a few short months before, and he contrasted that delight that should have been with his present uncaring coldness.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He thought of the wild delight that would have been his had this happened a few short months before, and he contrasted that delight that should have been with his present uncaring coldness.
book
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From this reading His book, his first book, and his pulse had not gone up a fraction of a beat, and he was only sad.
coldness
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From this reading He thought of the wild delight that would have been his had this happened a few short months before, and he contrasted that delight that should have been with his present uncaring coldness.
complimentary
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From this reading As Martin cut the cords of the express package and the half-dozen complimentary copies from the publishers spilled out on the table, a heavy sadness fell upon him.
contrasted
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From this reading He thought of the wild delight that would have been his had this happened a few short months before, and he contrasted that delight that should have been with his present uncaring coldness.
copies
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From this reading As Martin cut the cords of the express package and the half-dozen complimentary copies from the publishers spilled out on the table, a heavy sadness fell upon him.
cords
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From this reading As Martin cut the cords of the express package and the half-dozen complimentary copies from the publishers spilled out on the table, a heavy sadness fell upon him.
cut
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From this reading As Martin cut the cords of the express package and the half-dozen complimentary copies from the publishers spilled out on the table, a heavy sadness fell upon him.
delight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought of the wild delight that would have been his had this happened a few short months before, and he contrasted that delight that should have been with his present uncaring coldness.
expressverbUS /ɪkˈspres/
to show or communicate a feeling or idea
From this reading As Martin cut the cords of the express package and the half-dozen complimentary copies from the publishers spilled out on the table, a heavy sadness fell upon him.
fell
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From this reading As Martin cut the cords of the express package and the half-dozen complimentary copies from the publishers spilled out on the table, a heavy sadness fell upon him.
few
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From this reading He thought of the wild delight that would have been his had this happened a few short months before, and he contrasted that delight that should have been with his present uncaring coldness.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His book, his first book, and his pulse had not gone up a fraction of a beat, and he was only sad.
fraction
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From this reading His book, his first book, and his pulse had not gone up a fraction of a beat, and he was only sad.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading As Martin cut the cords of the express package and the half-dozen complimentary copies from the publishers spilled out on the table, a heavy sadness fell upon him.
gone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His book, his first book, and his pulse had not gone up a fraction of a beat, and he was only sad.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He thought of the wild delight that would have been his had this happened a few short months before, and he contrasted that delight that should have been with his present uncaring coldness.
half-dozen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Martin cut the cords of the express package and the half-dozen complimentary copies from the publishers spilled out on the table, a heavy sadness fell upon him.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought of the wild delight that would have been his had this happened a few short months before, and he contrasted that delight that should have been with his present uncaring coldness.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He thought of the wild delight that would have been his had this happened a few short months before, and he contrasted that delight that should have been with his present uncaring coldness.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He thought of the wild delight that would have been his had this happened a few short months before, and he contrasted that delight that should have been with his present uncaring coldness.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Martin cut the cords of the express package and the half-dozen complimentary copies from the publishers spilled out on the table, a heavy sadness fell upon him.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading As Martin cut the cords of the express package and the half-dozen complimentary copies from the publishers spilled out on the table, a heavy sadness fell upon him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He thought of the wild delight that would have been his had this happened a few short months before, and he contrasted that delight that should have been with his present uncaring coldness.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “The Shame of the Sun” was published in October.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It meant little to him now.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It meant little to him now.
Martin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Martin cut the cords of the express package and the half-dozen complimentary copies from the publishers spilled out on the table, a heavy sadness fell upon him.
meant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It meant little to him now.
months
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought of the wild delight that would have been his had this happened a few short months before, and he contrasted that delight that should have been with his present uncaring coldness.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading His book, his first book, and his pulse had not gone up a fraction of a beat, and he was only sad.
now
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From this reading It meant little to him now.
October
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The Shame of the Sun” was published in October.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “The Shame of the Sun” was published in October.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading As Martin cut the cords of the express package and the half-dozen complimentary copies from the publishers spilled out on the table, a heavy sadness fell upon him.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His book, his first book, and his pulse had not gone up a fraction of a beat, and he was only sad.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Martin cut the cords of the express package and the half-dozen complimentary copies from the publishers spilled out on the table, a heavy sadness fell upon him.
package
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Martin cut the cords of the express package and the half-dozen complimentary copies from the publishers spilled out on the table, a heavy sadness fell upon him.
present
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought of the wild delight that would have been his had this happened a few short months before, and he contrasted that delight that should have been with his present uncaring coldness.
published
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The Shame of the Sun” was published in October.
publishers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Martin cut the cords of the express package and the half-dozen complimentary copies from the publishers spilled out on the table, a heavy sadness fell upon him.
pulse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His book, his first book, and his pulse had not gone up a fraction of a beat, and he was only sad.
sad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His book, his first book, and his pulse had not gone up a fraction of a beat, and he was only sad.
sadness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Martin cut the cords of the express package and the half-dozen complimentary copies from the publishers spilled out on the table, a heavy sadness fell upon him.
Shame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The Shame of the Sun” was published in October.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading He thought of the wild delight that would have been his had this happened a few short months before, and he contrasted that delight that should have been with his present uncaring coldness.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading He thought of the wild delight that would have been his had this happened a few short months before, and he contrasted that delight that should have been with his present uncaring coldness.
spilled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Martin cut the cords of the express package and the half-dozen complimentary copies from the publishers spilled out on the table, a heavy sadness fell upon him.
Sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The Shame of the Sun” was published in October.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As Martin cut the cords of the express package and the half-dozen complimentary copies from the publishers spilled out on the table, a heavy sadness fell upon him.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He thought of the wild delight that would have been his had this happened a few short months before, and he contrasted that delight that should have been with his present uncaring coldness.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “The Shame of the Sun” was published in October.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He thought of the wild delight that would have been his had this happened a few short months before, and he contrasted that delight that should have been with his present uncaring coldness.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He thought of the wild delight that would have been his had this happened a few short months before, and he contrasted that delight that should have been with his present uncaring coldness.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It meant little to him now.
uncaring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought of the wild delight that would have been his had this happened a few short months before, and he contrasted that delight that should have been with his present uncaring coldness.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His book, his first book, and his pulse had not gone up a fraction of a beat, and he was only sad.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading As Martin cut the cords of the express package and the half-dozen complimentary copies from the publishers spilled out on the table, a heavy sadness fell upon him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “The Shame of the Sun” was published in October.
wild
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought of the wild delight that would have been his had this happened a few short months before, and he contrasted that delight that should have been with his present uncaring coldness.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He thought of the wild delight that would have been his had this happened a few short months before, and he contrasted that delight that should have been with his present uncaring coldness.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He thought of the wild delight that would have been his had this happened a few short months before, and he contrasted that delight that should have been with his present uncaring coldness.