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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 Dead and Dusty Past Gower sat in a deep grass chair, a pipe sagging one corner of his mouth, his slippered feet crossed on a low stool.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading MacRae took in every detail of his appearance in one photographic glance, as a man will when his gaze rests upon another with whom he may be about to clash.
absently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He scarcely seemed the same man who, nearly two years before, had absently bestowed upon MacRae a dollar for an act of simple courtesy.
act
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He scarcely seemed the same man who, nearly two years before, had absently bestowed upon MacRae a dollar for an act of simple courtesy.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He scarcely seemed the same man who, nearly two years before, had absently bestowed upon MacRae a dollar for an act of simple courtesy.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Dead and Dusty Past Gower sat in a deep grass chair, a pipe sagging one corner of his mouth, his slippered feet crossed on a low stool.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading MacRae took in every detail of his appearance in one photographic glance, as a man will when his gaze rests upon another with whom he may be about to clash.
appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading MacRae took in every detail of his appearance in one photographic glance, as a man will when his gaze rests upon another with whom he may be about to clash.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading His rubber sea boots lay on the porch floor as if he had but discarded them.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading MacRae took in every detail of his appearance in one photographic glance, as a man will when his gaze rests upon another with whom he may be about to clash.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He scarcely seemed the same man who, nearly two years before, had absently bestowed upon MacRae a dollar for an act of simple courtesy.
bestowed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He scarcely seemed the same man who, nearly two years before, had absently bestowed upon MacRae a dollar for an act of simple courtesy.
boots
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His rubber sea boots lay on the porch floor as if he had but discarded them.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading His rubber sea boots lay on the porch floor as if he had but discarded them.
chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Dead and Dusty Past Gower sat in a deep grass chair, a pipe sagging one corner of his mouth, his slippered feet crossed on a low stool.
clashnounUS /klæʃ/
A violent confrontation or disagreement between opposing forces or factions.
From this reading MacRae took in every detail of his appearance in one photographic glance, as a man will when his gaze rests upon another with whom he may be about to clash.
corner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Dead and Dusty Past Gower sat in a deep grass chair, a pipe sagging one corner of his mouth, his slippered feet crossed on a low stool.
courtesy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He scarcely seemed the same man who, nearly two years before, had absently bestowed upon MacRae a dollar for an act of simple courtesy.
crossed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Dead and Dusty Past Gower sat in a deep grass chair, a pipe sagging one corner of his mouth, his slippered feet crossed on a low stool.
DeadnounUS /dead/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Dead and Dusty Past Gower sat in a deep grass chair, a pipe sagging one corner of his mouth, his slippered feet crossed on a low stool.
deep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Dead and Dusty Past Gower sat in a deep grass chair, a pipe sagging one corner of his mouth, his slippered feet crossed on a low stool.
detail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MacRae took in every detail of his appearance in one photographic glance, as a man will when his gaze rests upon another with whom he may be about to clash.
discarded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His rubber sea boots lay on the porch floor as if he had but discarded them.
dollar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He scarcely seemed the same man who, nearly two years before, had absently bestowed upon MacRae a dollar for an act of simple courtesy.
Dusty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Dead and Dusty Past Gower sat in a deep grass chair, a pipe sagging one corner of his mouth, his slippered feet crossed on a low stool.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading MacRae took in every detail of his appearance in one photographic glance, as a man will when his gaze rests upon another with whom he may be about to clash.
feet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Dead and Dusty Past Gower sat in a deep grass chair, a pipe sagging one corner of his mouth, his slippered feet crossed on a low stool.
floor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His rubber sea boots lay on the porch floor as if he had but discarded them.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He scarcely seemed the same man who, nearly two years before, had absently bestowed upon MacRae a dollar for an act of simple courtesy.
gaze
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MacRae took in every detail of his appearance in one photographic glance, as a man will when his gaze rests upon another with whom he may be about to clash.
glance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MacRae took in every detail of his appearance in one photographic glance, as a man will when his gaze rests upon another with whom he may be about to clash.
Gower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Dead and Dusty Past Gower sat in a deep grass chair, a pipe sagging one corner of his mouth, his slippered feet crossed on a low stool.
grass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Dead and Dusty Past Gower sat in a deep grass chair, a pipe sagging one corner of his mouth, his slippered feet crossed on a low stool.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading His rubber sea boots lay on the porch floor as if he had but discarded them.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His rubber sea boots lay on the porch floor as if he had but discarded them.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Dead and Dusty Past Gower sat in a deep grass chair, a pipe sagging one corner of his mouth, his slippered feet crossed on a low stool.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading His rubber sea boots lay on the porch floor as if he had but discarded them.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Dead and Dusty Past Gower sat in a deep grass chair, a pipe sagging one corner of his mouth, his slippered feet crossed on a low stool.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His rubber sea boots lay on the porch floor as if he had but discarded them.
longer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gower no longer resembled the well-fed plutocrat.
low
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Dead and Dusty Past Gower sat in a deep grass chair, a pipe sagging one corner of his mouth, his slippered feet crossed on a low stool.
MacRae
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MacRae took in every detail of his appearance in one photographic glance, as a man will when his gaze rests upon another with whom he may be about to clash.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MacRae took in every detail of his appearance in one photographic glance, as a man will when his gaze rests upon another with whom he may be about to clash.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading MacRae took in every detail of his appearance in one photographic glance, as a man will when his gaze rests upon another with whom he may be about to clash.
mouth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Dead and Dusty Past Gower sat in a deep grass chair, a pipe sagging one corner of his mouth, his slippered feet crossed on a low stool.
nearly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He scarcely seemed the same man who, nearly two years before, had absently bestowed upon MacRae a dollar for an act of simple courtesy.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Gower no longer resembled the well-fed plutocrat.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Dead and Dusty Past Gower sat in a deep grass chair, a pipe sagging one corner of his mouth, his slippered feet crossed on a low stool.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The Dead and Dusty Past Gower sat in a deep grass chair, a pipe sagging one corner of his mouth, his slippered feet crossed on a low stool.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The Dead and Dusty Past Gower sat in a deep grass chair, a pipe sagging one corner of his mouth, his slippered feet crossed on a low stool.
Past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Dead and Dusty Past Gower sat in a deep grass chair, a pipe sagging one corner of his mouth, his slippered feet crossed on a low stool.
photographic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MacRae took in every detail of his appearance in one photographic glance, as a man will when his gaze rests upon another with whom he may be about to clash.
pipe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Dead and Dusty Past Gower sat in a deep grass chair, a pipe sagging one corner of his mouth, his slippered feet crossed on a low stool.
plutocrat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gower no longer resembled the well-fed plutocrat.
porch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His rubber sea boots lay on the porch floor as if he had but discarded them.
resembled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gower no longer resembled the well-fed plutocrat.
rests
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading MacRae took in every detail of his appearance in one photographic glance, as a man will when his gaze rests upon another with whom he may be about to clash.
rubber
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His rubber sea boots lay on the porch floor as if he had but discarded them.
sagging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Dead and Dusty Past Gower sat in a deep grass chair, a pipe sagging one corner of his mouth, his slippered feet crossed on a low stool.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He scarcely seemed the same man who, nearly two years before, had absently bestowed upon MacRae a dollar for an act of simple courtesy.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Dead and Dusty Past Gower sat in a deep grass chair, a pipe sagging one corner of his mouth, his slippered feet crossed on a low stool.
scarcely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He scarcely seemed the same man who, nearly two years before, had absently bestowed upon MacRae a dollar for an act of simple courtesy.
sea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His rubber sea boots lay on the porch floor as if he had but discarded them.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He scarcely seemed the same man who, nearly two years before, had absently bestowed upon MacRae a dollar for an act of simple courtesy.
simple
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He scarcely seemed the same man who, nearly two years before, had absently bestowed upon MacRae a dollar for an act of simple courtesy.
slippered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Dead and Dusty Past Gower sat in a deep grass chair, a pipe sagging one corner of his mouth, his slippered feet crossed on a low stool.
stool
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Dead and Dusty Past Gower sat in a deep grass chair, a pipe sagging one corner of his mouth, his slippered feet crossed on a low stool.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Dead and Dusty Past Gower sat in a deep grass chair, a pipe sagging one corner of his mouth, his slippered feet crossed on a low stool.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading His rubber sea boots lay on the porch floor as if he had but discarded them.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading MacRae took in every detail of his appearance in one photographic glance, as a man will when his gaze rests upon another with whom he may be about to clash.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading MacRae took in every detail of his appearance in one photographic glance, as a man will when his gaze rests upon another with whom he may be about to clash.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He scarcely seemed the same man who, nearly two years before, had absently bestowed upon MacRae a dollar for an act of simple courtesy.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading MacRae took in every detail of his appearance in one photographic glance, as a man will when his gaze rests upon another with whom he may be about to clash.
well-fed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gower no longer resembled the well-fed plutocrat.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading MacRae took in every detail of his appearance in one photographic glance, as a man will when his gaze rests upon another with whom he may be about to clash.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading He scarcely seemed the same man who, nearly two years before, had absently bestowed upon MacRae a dollar for an act of simple courtesy.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading MacRae took in every detail of his appearance in one photographic glance, as a man will when his gaze rests upon another with whom he may be about to clash.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading MacRae took in every detail of his appearance in one photographic glance, as a man will when his gaze rests upon another with whom he may be about to clash.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading MacRae took in every detail of his appearance in one photographic glance, as a man will when his gaze rests upon another with whom he may be about to clash.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He scarcely seemed the same man who, nearly two years before, had absently bestowed upon MacRae a dollar for an act of simple courtesy.
