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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 THE FIRST OBSTACLE A drizzling rain began to fall and an overcast sky, cold and bleak, dropped lower and lower until it covered the dripping park like a sombre mantle.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE FIRST OBSTACLE A drizzling rain began to fall and an overcast sky, cold and bleak, dropped lower and lower until it covered the dripping park like a sombre mantle.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE FIRST OBSTACLE A drizzling rain began to fall and an overcast sky, cold and bleak, dropped lower and lower until it covered the dripping park like a sombre mantle.
approach
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From this reading The glass in the hood of the hansom kept out the biting rain, but the drear approach of a wet evening was not to be denied.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The electric lights were coming on; pavements glistened with the glare from the globes; tiny volcanoes leaped up by thousands as the patting, swishing raindrops flounced to the sidewalks.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The glass in the hood of the hansom kept out the biting rain, but the drear approach of a wet evening was not to be denied.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For nearly three hours Hugh and Grace had been driven through the park and up the Riverside, killing time with a nervous energy that was beginning to tell.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE FIRST OBSTACLE A drizzling rain began to fall and an overcast sky, cold and bleak, dropped lower and lower until it covered the dripping park like a sombre mantle.
beginningnounUS /ˈbeginning/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading For nearly three hours Hugh and Grace had been driven through the park and up the Riverside, killing time with a nervous energy that was beginning to tell.
biting
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From this reading The glass in the hood of the hansom kept out the biting rain, but the drear approach of a wet evening was not to be denied.
bleak
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From this reading THE FIRST OBSTACLE A drizzling rain began to fall and an overcast sky, cold and bleak, dropped lower and lower until it covered the dripping park like a sombre mantle.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The glass in the hood of the hansom kept out the biting rain, but the drear approach of a wet evening was not to be denied.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The electric lights were coming on; pavements glistened with the glare from the globes; tiny volcanoes leaped up by thousands as the patting, swishing raindrops flounced to the sidewalks.
closer
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From this reading "Isn't it dismal?" murmured Grace, huddling closer to his side.
cold
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From this reading THE FIRST OBSTACLE A drizzling rain began to fall and an overcast sky, cold and bleak, dropped lower and lower until it covered the dripping park like a sombre mantle.
coming
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From this reading The electric lights were coming on; pavements glistened with the glare from the globes; tiny volcanoes leaped up by thousands as the patting, swishing raindrops flounced to the sidewalks.
covered
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From this reading THE FIRST OBSTACLE A drizzling rain began to fall and an overcast sky, cold and bleak, dropped lower and lower until it covered the dripping park like a sombre mantle.
denied
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From this reading The glass in the hood of the hansom kept out the biting rain, but the drear approach of a wet evening was not to be denied.
dismal
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From this reading "Isn't it dismal?" murmured Grace, huddling closer to his side.
drear
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From this reading The glass in the hood of the hansom kept out the biting rain, but the drear approach of a wet evening was not to be denied.
dripping
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From this reading THE FIRST OBSTACLE A drizzling rain began to fall and an overcast sky, cold and bleak, dropped lower and lower until it covered the dripping park like a sombre mantle.
driven
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From this reading For nearly three hours Hugh and Grace had been driven through the park and up the Riverside, killing time with a nervous energy that was beginning to tell.
drizzling
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From this reading THE FIRST OBSTACLE A drizzling rain began to fall and an overcast sky, cold and bleak, dropped lower and lower until it covered the dripping park like a sombre mantle.
dropped
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From this reading THE FIRST OBSTACLE A drizzling rain began to fall and an overcast sky, cold and bleak, dropped lower and lower until it covered the dripping park like a sombre mantle.
electric
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From this reading The electric lights were coming on; pavements glistened with the glare from the globes; tiny volcanoes leaped up by thousands as the patting, swishing raindrops flounced to the sidewalks.
energy
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From this reading For nearly three hours Hugh and Grace had been driven through the park and up the Riverside, killing time with a nervous energy that was beginning to tell.
evening
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From this reading The glass in the hood of the hansom kept out the biting rain, but the drear approach of a wet evening was not to be denied.
fall
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From this reading THE FIRST OBSTACLE A drizzling rain began to fall and an overcast sky, cold and bleak, dropped lower and lower until it covered the dripping park like a sombre mantle.
FIRSTnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE FIRST OBSTACLE A drizzling rain began to fall and an overcast sky, cold and bleak, dropped lower and lower until it covered the dripping park like a sombre mantle.
flounced
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From this reading The electric lights were coming on; pavements glistened with the glare from the globes; tiny volcanoes leaped up by thousands as the patting, swishing raindrops flounced to the sidewalks.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For nearly three hours Hugh and Grace had been driven through the park and up the Riverside, killing time with a nervous energy that was beginning to tell.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The electric lights were coming on; pavements glistened with the glare from the globes; tiny volcanoes leaped up by thousands as the patting, swishing raindrops flounced to the sidewalks.
glarenounUS /glare/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The electric lights were coming on; pavements glistened with the glare from the globes; tiny volcanoes leaped up by thousands as the patting, swishing raindrops flounced to the sidewalks.
glass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The glass in the hood of the hansom kept out the biting rain, but the drear approach of a wet evening was not to be denied.
glistened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The electric lights were coming on; pavements glistened with the glare from the globes; tiny volcanoes leaped up by thousands as the patting, swishing raindrops flounced to the sidewalks.
globes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The electric lights were coming on; pavements glistened with the glare from the globes; tiny volcanoes leaped up by thousands as the patting, swishing raindrops flounced to the sidewalks.
Grace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For nearly three hours Hugh and Grace had been driven through the park and up the Riverside, killing time with a nervous energy that was beginning to tell.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For nearly three hours Hugh and Grace had been driven through the park and up the Riverside, killing time with a nervous energy that was beginning to tell.
hansom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The glass in the hood of the hansom kept out the biting rain, but the drear approach of a wet evening was not to be denied.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Isn't it dismal?" murmured Grace, huddling closer to his side.
hood
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From this reading The glass in the hood of the hansom kept out the biting rain, but the drear approach of a wet evening was not to be denied.
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For nearly three hours Hugh and Grace had been driven through the park and up the Riverside, killing time with a nervous energy that was beginning to tell.
huddling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Isn't it dismal?" murmured Grace, huddling closer to his side.
Hugh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For nearly three hours Hugh and Grace had been driven through the park and up the Riverside, killing time with a nervous energy that was beginning to tell.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The glass in the hood of the hansom kept out the biting rain, but the drear approach of a wet evening was not to be denied.
Isn't
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From this reading "Isn't it dismal?" murmured Grace, huddling closer to his side.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE FIRST OBSTACLE A drizzling rain began to fall and an overcast sky, cold and bleak, dropped lower and lower until it covered the dripping park like a sombre mantle.
kept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The glass in the hood of the hansom kept out the biting rain, but the drear approach of a wet evening was not to be denied.
killing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For nearly three hours Hugh and Grace had been driven through the park and up the Riverside, killing time with a nervous energy that was beginning to tell.
leaped
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From this reading The electric lights were coming on; pavements glistened with the glare from the globes; tiny volcanoes leaped up by thousands as the patting, swishing raindrops flounced to the sidewalks.
lights
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The electric lights were coming on; pavements glistened with the glare from the globes; tiny volcanoes leaped up by thousands as the patting, swishing raindrops flounced to the sidewalks.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIRST OBSTACLE A drizzling rain began to fall and an overcast sky, cold and bleak, dropped lower and lower until it covered the dripping park like a sombre mantle.
lower
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From this reading THE FIRST OBSTACLE A drizzling rain began to fall and an overcast sky, cold and bleak, dropped lower and lower until it covered the dripping park like a sombre mantle.
mantlenounUS /ˈmæntəl/
a loose covering like a cloak
From this reading THE FIRST OBSTACLE A drizzling rain began to fall and an overcast sky, cold and bleak, dropped lower and lower until it covered the dripping park like a sombre mantle.
murmured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Isn't it dismal?" murmured Grace, huddling closer to his side.
nearly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For nearly three hours Hugh and Grace had been driven through the park and up the Riverside, killing time with a nervous energy that was beginning to tell.
nervous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For nearly three hours Hugh and Grace had been driven through the park and up the Riverside, killing time with a nervous energy that was beginning to tell.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The glass in the hood of the hansom kept out the biting rain, but the drear approach of a wet evening was not to be denied.
OBSTACLE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIRST OBSTACLE A drizzling rain began to fall and an overcast sky, cold and bleak, dropped lower and lower until it covered the dripping park like a sombre mantle.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The glass in the hood of the hansom kept out the biting rain, but the drear approach of a wet evening was not to be denied.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The electric lights were coming on; pavements glistened with the glare from the globes; tiny volcanoes leaped up by thousands as the patting, swishing raindrops flounced to the sidewalks.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The glass in the hood of the hansom kept out the biting rain, but the drear approach of a wet evening was not to be denied.
overcast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIRST OBSTACLE A drizzling rain began to fall and an overcast sky, cold and bleak, dropped lower and lower until it covered the dripping park like a sombre mantle.
park
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIRST OBSTACLE A drizzling rain began to fall and an overcast sky, cold and bleak, dropped lower and lower until it covered the dripping park like a sombre mantle.
patting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The electric lights were coming on; pavements glistened with the glare from the globes; tiny volcanoes leaped up by thousands as the patting, swishing raindrops flounced to the sidewalks.
pavements
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The electric lights were coming on; pavements glistened with the glare from the globes; tiny volcanoes leaped up by thousands as the patting, swishing raindrops flounced to the sidewalks.
rain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIRST OBSTACLE A drizzling rain began to fall and an overcast sky, cold and bleak, dropped lower and lower until it covered the dripping park like a sombre mantle.
raindrops
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The electric lights were coming on; pavements glistened with the glare from the globes; tiny volcanoes leaped up by thousands as the patting, swishing raindrops flounced to the sidewalks.
Riverside
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For nearly three hours Hugh and Grace had been driven through the park and up the Riverside, killing time with a nervous energy that was beginning to tell.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Isn't it dismal?" murmured Grace, huddling closer to his side.
sidewalks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The electric lights were coming on; pavements glistened with the glare from the globes; tiny volcanoes leaped up by thousands as the patting, swishing raindrops flounced to the sidewalks.
sky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIRST OBSTACLE A drizzling rain began to fall and an overcast sky, cold and bleak, dropped lower and lower until it covered the dripping park like a sombre mantle.
sombre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIRST OBSTACLE A drizzling rain began to fall and an overcast sky, cold and bleak, dropped lower and lower until it covered the dripping park like a sombre mantle.
swishing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The electric lights were coming on; pavements glistened with the glare from the globes; tiny volcanoes leaped up by thousands as the patting, swishing raindrops flounced to the sidewalks.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For nearly three hours Hugh and Grace had been driven through the park and up the Riverside, killing time with a nervous energy that was beginning to tell.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For nearly three hours Hugh and Grace had been driven through the park and up the Riverside, killing time with a nervous energy that was beginning to tell.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FIRST OBSTACLE A drizzling rain began to fall and an overcast sky, cold and bleak, dropped lower and lower until it covered the dripping park like a sombre mantle.
thousands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The electric lights were coming on; pavements glistened with the glare from the globes; tiny volcanoes leaped up by thousands as the patting, swishing raindrops flounced to the sidewalks.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For nearly three hours Hugh and Grace had been driven through the park and up the Riverside, killing time with a nervous energy that was beginning to tell.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading For nearly three hours Hugh and Grace had been driven through the park and up the Riverside, killing time with a nervous energy that was beginning to tell.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For nearly three hours Hugh and Grace had been driven through the park and up the Riverside, killing time with a nervous energy that was beginning to tell.
tiny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The electric lights were coming on; pavements glistened with the glare from the globes; tiny volcanoes leaped up by thousands as the patting, swishing raindrops flounced to the sidewalks.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE FIRST OBSTACLE A drizzling rain began to fall and an overcast sky, cold and bleak, dropped lower and lower until it covered the dripping park like a sombre mantle.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading THE FIRST OBSTACLE A drizzling rain began to fall and an overcast sky, cold and bleak, dropped lower and lower until it covered the dripping park like a sombre mantle.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For nearly three hours Hugh and Grace had been driven through the park and up the Riverside, killing time with a nervous energy that was beginning to tell.
volcanoes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The electric lights were coming on; pavements glistened with the glare from the globes; tiny volcanoes leaped up by thousands as the patting, swishing raindrops flounced to the sidewalks.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The glass in the hood of the hansom kept out the biting rain, but the drear approach of a wet evening was not to be denied.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The electric lights were coming on; pavements glistened with the glare from the globes; tiny volcanoes leaped up by thousands as the patting, swishing raindrops flounced to the sidewalks.
wet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The glass in the hood of the hansom kept out the biting rain, but the drear approach of a wet evening was not to be denied.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading For nearly three hours Hugh and Grace had been driven through the park and up the Riverside, killing time with a nervous energy that was beginning to tell.
