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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 AN INTERNATIONAL ISSUE By a merciful dispensation, the ducal party withdrew at twenty-five minutes past twelve, doubtless to avert the ignominy of compulsion at the half-hour.
Act
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From this reading We were loth to obey the inexorable decree of the Licensing Act, but there was no choice.
ago
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From this reading That conflict which a little while ago had seemed so demoralising to the overwrought nerves was now only too likely to be hailed as the sublimity of battle.
ANdeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN INTERNATIONAL ISSUE By a merciful dispensation, the ducal party withdrew at twenty-five minutes past twelve, doubtless to avert the ignominy of compulsion at the half-hour.
AndconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And yet would it have been an ordeal?
any
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From this reading By that means we were at least spared any further ordeal that might be forthcoming from that quarter.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading That conflict which a little while ago had seemed so demoralising to the overwrought nerves was now only too likely to be hailed as the sublimity of battle.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading AN INTERNATIONAL ISSUE By a merciful dispensation, the ducal party withdrew at twenty-five minutes past twelve, doubtless to avert the ignominy of compulsion at the half-hour.
avert
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From this reading AN INTERNATIONAL ISSUE By a merciful dispensation, the ducal party withdrew at twenty-five minutes past twelve, doubtless to avert the ignominy of compulsion at the half-hour.
battle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That conflict which a little while ago had seemed so demoralising to the overwrought nerves was now only too likely to be hailed as the sublimity of battle.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading By that means we were at least spared any further ordeal that might be forthcoming from that quarter.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading And yet would it have been an ordeal?
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading We were loth to obey the inexorable decree of the Licensing Act, but there was no choice.
ByprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading AN INTERNATIONAL ISSUE By a merciful dispensation, the ducal party withdrew at twenty-five minutes past twelve, doubtless to avert the ignominy of compulsion at the half-hour.
choice
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From this reading We were loth to obey the inexorable decree of the Licensing Act, but there was no choice.
compulsion
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From this reading AN INTERNATIONAL ISSUE By a merciful dispensation, the ducal party withdrew at twenty-five minutes past twelve, doubtless to avert the ignominy of compulsion at the half-hour.
conflict
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From this reading That conflict which a little while ago had seemed so demoralising to the overwrought nerves was now only too likely to be hailed as the sublimity of battle.
decree
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From this reading We were loth to obey the inexorable decree of the Licensing Act, but there was no choice.
demoralising
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From this reading That conflict which a little while ago had seemed so demoralising to the overwrought nerves was now only too likely to be hailed as the sublimity of battle.
dispensation
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From this reading AN INTERNATIONAL ISSUE By a merciful dispensation, the ducal party withdrew at twenty-five minutes past twelve, doubtless to avert the ignominy of compulsion at the half-hour.
doubtless
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From this reading AN INTERNATIONAL ISSUE By a merciful dispensation, the ducal party withdrew at twenty-five minutes past twelve, doubtless to avert the ignominy of compulsion at the half-hour.
ducal
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From this reading AN INTERNATIONAL ISSUE By a merciful dispensation, the ducal party withdrew at twenty-five minutes past twelve, doubtless to avert the ignominy of compulsion at the half-hour.
forthcoming
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From this reading By that means we were at least spared any further ordeal that might be forthcoming from that quarter.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading By that means we were at least spared any further ordeal that might be forthcoming from that quarter.
further
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From this reading By that means we were at least spared any further ordeal that might be forthcoming from that quarter.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading That conflict which a little while ago had seemed so demoralising to the overwrought nerves was now only too likely to be hailed as the sublimity of battle.
hailednounUS /hailed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That conflict which a little while ago had seemed so demoralising to the overwrought nerves was now only too likely to be hailed as the sublimity of battle.
half-hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN INTERNATIONAL ISSUE By a merciful dispensation, the ducal party withdrew at twenty-five minutes past twelve, doubtless to avert the ignominy of compulsion at the half-hour.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading And yet would it have been an ordeal?
ignominy
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From this reading AN INTERNATIONAL ISSUE By a merciful dispensation, the ducal party withdrew at twenty-five minutes past twelve, doubtless to avert the ignominy of compulsion at the half-hour.
inexorable
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From this reading We were loth to obey the inexorable decree of the Licensing Act, but there was no choice.
INTERNATIONAL
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From this reading AN INTERNATIONAL ISSUE By a merciful dispensation, the ducal party withdrew at twenty-five minutes past twelve, doubtless to avert the ignominy of compulsion at the half-hour.
ISSUE
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From this reading AN INTERNATIONAL ISSUE By a merciful dispensation, the ducal party withdrew at twenty-five minutes past twelve, doubtless to avert the ignominy of compulsion at the half-hour.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And yet would it have been an ordeal?
leastnounUS /least/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading By that means we were at least spared any further ordeal that might be forthcoming from that quarter.
Licensing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were loth to obey the inexorable decree of the Licensing Act, but there was no choice.
likely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That conflict which a little while ago had seemed so demoralising to the overwrought nerves was now only too likely to be hailed as the sublimity of battle.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That conflict which a little while ago had seemed so demoralising to the overwrought nerves was now only too likely to be hailed as the sublimity of battle.
loth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were loth to obey the inexorable decree of the Licensing Act, but there was no choice.
means
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By that means we were at least spared any further ordeal that might be forthcoming from that quarter.
merciful
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From this reading AN INTERNATIONAL ISSUE By a merciful dispensation, the ducal party withdrew at twenty-five minutes past twelve, doubtless to avert the ignominy of compulsion at the half-hour.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading By that means we were at least spared any further ordeal that might be forthcoming from that quarter.
minutes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN INTERNATIONAL ISSUE By a merciful dispensation, the ducal party withdrew at twenty-five minutes past twelve, doubtless to avert the ignominy of compulsion at the half-hour.
nerves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That conflict which a little while ago had seemed so demoralising to the overwrought nerves was now only too likely to be hailed as the sublimity of battle.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading We were loth to obey the inexorable decree of the Licensing Act, but there was no choice.
now
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From this reading That conflict which a little while ago had seemed so demoralising to the overwrought nerves was now only too likely to be hailed as the sublimity of battle.
obey
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From this reading We were loth to obey the inexorable decree of the Licensing Act, but there was no choice.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AN INTERNATIONAL ISSUE By a merciful dispensation, the ducal party withdrew at twenty-five minutes past twelve, doubtless to avert the ignominy of compulsion at the half-hour.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That conflict which a little while ago had seemed so demoralising to the overwrought nerves was now only too likely to be hailed as the sublimity of battle.
ordeal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By that means we were at least spared any further ordeal that might be forthcoming from that quarter.
overwrought
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That conflict which a little while ago had seemed so demoralising to the overwrought nerves was now only too likely to be hailed as the sublimity of battle.
partynounUS /party/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading AN INTERNATIONAL ISSUE By a merciful dispensation, the ducal party withdrew at twenty-five minutes past twelve, doubtless to avert the ignominy of compulsion at the half-hour.
past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN INTERNATIONAL ISSUE By a merciful dispensation, the ducal party withdrew at twenty-five minutes past twelve, doubtless to avert the ignominy of compulsion at the half-hour.
quarter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By that means we were at least spared any further ordeal that might be forthcoming from that quarter.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That conflict which a little while ago had seemed so demoralising to the overwrought nerves was now only too likely to be hailed as the sublimity of battle.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading That conflict which a little while ago had seemed so demoralising to the overwrought nerves was now only too likely to be hailed as the sublimity of battle.
spared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading By that means we were at least spared any further ordeal that might be forthcoming from that quarter.
sublimity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That conflict which a little while ago had seemed so demoralising to the overwrought nerves was now only too likely to be hailed as the sublimity of battle.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading By that means we were at least spared any further ordeal that might be forthcoming from that quarter.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AN INTERNATIONAL ISSUE By a merciful dispensation, the ducal party withdrew at twenty-five minutes past twelve, doubtless to avert the ignominy of compulsion at the half-hour.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were loth to obey the inexorable decree of the Licensing Act, but there was no choice.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading AN INTERNATIONAL ISSUE By a merciful dispensation, the ducal party withdrew at twenty-five minutes past twelve, doubtless to avert the ignominy of compulsion at the half-hour.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That conflict which a little while ago had seemed so demoralising to the overwrought nerves was now only too likely to be hailed as the sublimity of battle.
twelve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN INTERNATIONAL ISSUE By a merciful dispensation, the ducal party withdrew at twenty-five minutes past twelve, doubtless to avert the ignominy of compulsion at the half-hour.
twenty-five
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN INTERNATIONAL ISSUE By a merciful dispensation, the ducal party withdrew at twenty-five minutes past twelve, doubtless to avert the ignominy of compulsion at the half-hour.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That conflict which a little while ago had seemed so demoralising to the overwrought nerves was now only too likely to be hailed as the sublimity of battle.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading By that means we were at least spared any further ordeal that might be forthcoming from that quarter.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading By that means we were at least spared any further ordeal that might be forthcoming from that quarter.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading That conflict which a little while ago had seemed so demoralising to the overwrought nerves was now only too likely to be hailed as the sublimity of battle.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading That conflict which a little while ago had seemed so demoralising to the overwrought nerves was now only too likely to be hailed as the sublimity of battle.
withdrew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN INTERNATIONAL ISSUE By a merciful dispensation, the ducal party withdrew at twenty-five minutes past twelve, doubtless to avert the ignominy of compulsion at the half-hour.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading And yet would it have been an ordeal?
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading And yet would it have been an ordeal?
