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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 A rain was drenching the blackness of the night as the New York train reached the small city that was Phœbe’s destination.
a-stream
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From this reading Her father had wakened her a little in advance of their stop, and when she had washed her face and smoothed her hair, she had peered through the double glass of a car window a-stream with water—and then recoiled from the panes with a sinking of the heart.
adjust
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From this reading A long whistle made her catch up her hat and adjust its elastic under her chin.
advance
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From this reading Her father had wakened her a little in advance of their stop, and when she had washed her face and smoothed her hair, she had peered through the double glass of a car window a-stream with water—and then recoiled from the panes with a sinking of the heart.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading How dark it was out there! how stormy! how lightless after a life-time in a city which, no matter at what hour she might awake, was always alight!
alight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How dark it was out there! how stormy! how lightless after a life-time in a city which, no matter at what hour she might awake, was always alight!
alreadynounUS /already/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The porter had already taken her father’s suit-case and her own to the forward end of the coach.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How dark it was out there! how stormy! how lightless after a life-time in a city which, no matter at what hour she might awake, was always alight!
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Her father had wakened her a little in advance of their stop, and when she had washed her face and smoothed her hair, she had peered through the double glass of a car window a-stream with water—and then recoiled from the panes with a sinking of the heart.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A rain was drenching the blackness of the night as the New York train reached the small city that was Phœbe’s destination.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading How dark it was out there! how stormy! how lightless after a life-time in a city which, no matter at what hour she might awake, was always alight!
awake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How dark it was out there! how stormy! how lightless after a life-time in a city which, no matter at what hour she might awake, was always alight!
blackness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A rain was drenching the blackness of the night as the New York train reached the small city that was Phœbe’s destination.
car
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father had wakened her a little in advance of their stop, and when she had washed her face and smoothed her hair, she had peered through the double glass of a car window a-stream with water—and then recoiled from the panes with a sinking of the heart.
catch
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From this reading A long whistle made her catch up her hat and adjust its elastic under her chin.
chin
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From this reading A long whistle made her catch up her hat and adjust its elastic under her chin.
city
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A rain was drenching the blackness of the night as the New York train reached the small city that was Phœbe’s destination.
coach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The porter had already taken her father’s suit-case and her own to the forward end of the coach.
dark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How dark it was out there! how stormy! how lightless after a life-time in a city which, no matter at what hour she might awake, was always alight!
destination
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A rain was drenching the blackness of the night as the New York train reached the small city that was Phœbe’s destination.
double
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father had wakened her a little in advance of their stop, and when she had washed her face and smoothed her hair, she had peered through the double glass of a car window a-stream with water—and then recoiled from the panes with a sinking of the heart.
drenching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A rain was drenching the blackness of the night as the New York train reached the small city that was Phœbe’s destination.
elastic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A long whistle made her catch up her hat and adjust its elastic under her chin.
end
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The porter had already taken her father’s suit-case and her own to the forward end of the coach.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father had wakened her a little in advance of their stop, and when she had washed her face and smoothed her hair, she had peered through the double glass of a car window a-stream with water—and then recoiled from the panes with a sinking of the heart.
father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father had wakened her a little in advance of their stop, and when she had washed her face and smoothed her hair, she had peered through the double glass of a car window a-stream with water—and then recoiled from the panes with a sinking of the heart.
father's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The porter had already taken her father’s suit-case and her own to the forward end of the coach.
forwardnounUS /forward/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The porter had already taken her father’s suit-case and her own to the forward end of the coach.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Her father had wakened her a little in advance of their stop, and when she had washed her face and smoothed her hair, she had peered through the double glass of a car window a-stream with water—and then recoiled from the panes with a sinking of the heart.
glass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father had wakened her a little in advance of their stop, and when she had washed her face and smoothed her hair, she had peered through the double glass of a car window a-stream with water—and then recoiled from the panes with a sinking of the heart.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Her father had wakened her a little in advance of their stop, and when she had washed her face and smoothed her hair, she had peered through the double glass of a car window a-stream with water—and then recoiled from the panes with a sinking of the heart.
hair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father had wakened her a little in advance of their stop, and when she had washed her face and smoothed her hair, she had peered through the double glass of a car window a-stream with water—and then recoiled from the panes with a sinking of the heart.
hat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A long whistle made her catch up her hat and adjust its elastic under her chin.
heart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father had wakened her a little in advance of their stop, and when she had washed her face and smoothed her hair, she had peered through the double glass of a car window a-stream with water—and then recoiled from the panes with a sinking of the heart.
HerdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her father had wakened her a little in advance of their stop, and when she had washed her face and smoothed her hair, she had peered through the double glass of a car window a-stream with water—and then recoiled from the panes with a sinking of the heart.
hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How dark it was out there! how stormy! how lightless after a life-time in a city which, no matter at what hour she might awake, was always alight!
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How dark it was out there! how stormy! how lightless after a life-time in a city which, no matter at what hour she might awake, was always alight!
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Her father had wakened her a little in advance of their stop, and when she had washed her face and smoothed her hair, she had peered through the double glass of a car window a-stream with water—and then recoiled from the panes with a sinking of the heart.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading How dark it was out there! how stormy! how lightless after a life-time in a city which, no matter at what hour she might awake, was always alight!
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading A long whistle made her catch up her hat and adjust its elastic under her chin.
life-time
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How dark it was out there! how stormy! how lightless after a life-time in a city which, no matter at what hour she might awake, was always alight!
lightless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How dark it was out there! how stormy! how lightless after a life-time in a city which, no matter at what hour she might awake, was always alight!
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Her father had wakened her a little in advance of their stop, and when she had washed her face and smoothed her hair, she had peered through the double glass of a car window a-stream with water—and then recoiled from the panes with a sinking of the heart.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A long whistle made her catch up her hat and adjust its elastic under her chin.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A long whistle made her catch up her hat and adjust its elastic under her chin.
matter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How dark it was out there! how stormy! how lightless after a life-time in a city which, no matter at what hour she might awake, was always alight!
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading How dark it was out there! how stormy! how lightless after a life-time in a city which, no matter at what hour she might awake, was always alight!
New
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A rain was drenching the blackness of the night as the New York train reached the small city that was Phœbe’s destination.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A rain was drenching the blackness of the night as the New York train reached the small city that was Phœbe’s destination.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading How dark it was out there! how stormy! how lightless after a life-time in a city which, no matter at what hour she might awake, was always alight!
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A rain was drenching the blackness of the night as the New York train reached the small city that was Phœbe’s destination.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How dark it was out there! how stormy! how lightless after a life-time in a city which, no matter at what hour she might awake, was always alight!
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The porter had already taken her father’s suit-case and her own to the forward end of the coach.
panes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father had wakened her a little in advance of their stop, and when she had washed her face and smoothed her hair, she had peered through the double glass of a car window a-stream with water—and then recoiled from the panes with a sinking of the heart.
peered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father had wakened her a little in advance of their stop, and when she had washed her face and smoothed her hair, she had peered through the double glass of a car window a-stream with water—and then recoiled from the panes with a sinking of the heart.
Phœbe's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A rain was drenching the blackness of the night as the New York train reached the small city that was Phœbe’s destination.
porter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The porter had already taken her father’s suit-case and her own to the forward end of the coach.
rain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A rain was drenching the blackness of the night as the New York train reached the small city that was Phœbe’s destination.
reached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A rain was drenching the blackness of the night as the New York train reached the small city that was Phœbe’s destination.
recoiled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father had wakened her a little in advance of their stop, and when she had washed her face and smoothed her hair, she had peered through the double glass of a car window a-stream with water—and then recoiled from the panes with a sinking of the heart.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Her father had wakened her a little in advance of their stop, and when she had washed her face and smoothed her hair, she had peered through the double glass of a car window a-stream with water—and then recoiled from the panes with a sinking of the heart.
sinking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father had wakened her a little in advance of their stop, and when she had washed her face and smoothed her hair, she had peered through the double glass of a car window a-stream with water—and then recoiled from the panes with a sinking of the heart.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A rain was drenching the blackness of the night as the New York train reached the small city that was Phœbe’s destination.
smoothed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father had wakened her a little in advance of their stop, and when she had washed her face and smoothed her hair, she had peered through the double glass of a car window a-stream with water—and then recoiled from the panes with a sinking of the heart.
stop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father had wakened her a little in advance of their stop, and when she had washed her face and smoothed her hair, she had peered through the double glass of a car window a-stream with water—and then recoiled from the panes with a sinking of the heart.
stormy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How dark it was out there! how stormy! how lightless after a life-time in a city which, no matter at what hour she might awake, was always alight!
suit-case
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The porter had already taken her father’s suit-case and her own to the forward end of the coach.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The porter had already taken her father’s suit-case and her own to the forward end of the coach.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A rain was drenching the blackness of the night as the New York train reached the small city that was Phœbe’s destination.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A rain was drenching the blackness of the night as the New York train reached the small city that was Phœbe’s destination.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Her father had wakened her a little in advance of their stop, and when she had washed her face and smoothed her hair, she had peered through the double glass of a car window a-stream with water—and then recoiled from the panes with a sinking of the heart.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father had wakened her a little in advance of their stop, and when she had washed her face and smoothed her hair, she had peered through the double glass of a car window a-stream with water—and then recoiled from the panes with a sinking of the heart.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How dark it was out there! how stormy! how lightless after a life-time in a city which, no matter at what hour she might awake, was always alight!
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Her father had wakened her a little in advance of their stop, and when she had washed her face and smoothed her hair, she had peered through the double glass of a car window a-stream with water—and then recoiled from the panes with a sinking of the heart.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The porter had already taken her father’s suit-case and her own to the forward end of the coach.
train
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A rain was drenching the blackness of the night as the New York train reached the small city that was Phœbe’s destination.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading A long whistle made her catch up her hat and adjust its elastic under her chin.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A long whistle made her catch up her hat and adjust its elastic under her chin.
wakened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father had wakened her a little in advance of their stop, and when she had washed her face and smoothed her hair, she had peered through the double glass of a car window a-stream with water—and then recoiled from the panes with a sinking of the heart.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A rain was drenching the blackness of the night as the New York train reached the small city that was Phœbe’s destination.
washed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father had wakened her a little in advance of their stop, and when she had washed her face and smoothed her hair, she had peered through the double glass of a car window a-stream with water—and then recoiled from the panes with a sinking of the heart.
water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father had wakened her a little in advance of their stop, and when she had washed her face and smoothed her hair, she had peered through the double glass of a car window a-stream with water—and then recoiled from the panes with a sinking of the heart.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading How dark it was out there! how stormy! how lightless after a life-time in a city which, no matter at what hour she might awake, was always alight!
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Her father had wakened her a little in advance of their stop, and when she had washed her face and smoothed her hair, she had peered through the double glass of a car window a-stream with water—and then recoiled from the panes with a sinking of the heart.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading How dark it was out there! how stormy! how lightless after a life-time in a city which, no matter at what hour she might awake, was always alight!
whistlenounUS /ˈwhistle/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading A long whistle made her catch up her hat and adjust its elastic under her chin.
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her father had wakened her a little in advance of their stop, and when she had washed her face and smoothed her hair, she had peered through the double glass of a car window a-stream with water—and then recoiled from the panes with a sinking of the heart.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Her father had wakened her a little in advance of their stop, and when she had washed her face and smoothed her hair, she had peered through the double glass of a car window a-stream with water—and then recoiled from the panes with a sinking of the heart.
York
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A rain was drenching the blackness of the night as the New York train reached the small city that was Phœbe’s destination.
