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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 SPOILED MOTHER IT had been an ideal October day: one of those ravishing days that come sometimes in late autumn when, though the air is crisp with the hint of a coming winter, it is at the same time balmy with the memory of the departed summer.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The Burnham place had never looked more lovely than it did that afternoon, bathed in the soft glory of an unusually brilliant sun-setting.
air
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From this reading A SPOILED MOTHER IT had been an ideal October day: one of those ravishing days that come sometimes in late autumn when, though the air is crisp with the hint of a coming winter, it is at the same time balmy with the memory of the departed summer.
all
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From this reading The hills in the near distance had put on their glorified autumn dress, and the flowers in the gardens were all of the gorgeous or deep-toned colorings that tell of summer suns and autumn crispness.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A SPOILED MOTHER IT had been an ideal October day: one of those ravishing days that come sometimes in late autumn when, though the air is crisp with the hint of a coming winter, it is at the same time balmy with the memory of the departed summer.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The hills in the near distance had put on their glorified autumn dress, and the flowers in the gardens were all of the gorgeous or deep-toned colorings that tell of summer suns and autumn crispness.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was customary to speak of this as the old Burnham place; yet nothing in Ruth Erskine Burnham's changeful life showed more markedly the effect of change than did this.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A SPOILED MOTHER IT had been an ideal October day: one of those ravishing days that come sometimes in late autumn when, though the air is crisp with the hint of a coming winter, it is at the same time balmy with the memory of the departed summer.
autumn
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From this reading A SPOILED MOTHER IT had been an ideal October day: one of those ravishing days that come sometimes in late autumn when, though the air is crisp with the hint of a coming winter, it is at the same time balmy with the memory of the departed summer.
balmy
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From this reading A SPOILED MOTHER IT had been an ideal October day: one of those ravishing days that come sometimes in late autumn when, though the air is crisp with the hint of a coming winter, it is at the same time balmy with the memory of the departed summer.
bathed
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From this reading The Burnham place had never looked more lovely than it did that afternoon, bathed in the soft glory of an unusually brilliant sun-setting.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was, in short, one of those days when it is, or should be, a delight simply to live.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A SPOILED MOTHER IT had been an ideal October day: one of those ravishing days that come sometimes in late autumn when, though the air is crisp with the hint of a coming winter, it is at the same time balmy with the memory of the departed summer.
brilliant
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From this reading The Burnham place had never looked more lovely than it did that afternoon, bathed in the soft glory of an unusually brilliant sun-setting.
Burnham
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From this reading The Burnham place had never looked more lovely than it did that afternoon, bathed in the soft glory of an unusually brilliant sun-setting.
Burnham's
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From this reading It was customary to speak of this as the old Burnham place; yet nothing in Ruth Erskine Burnham's changeful life showed more markedly the effect of change than did this.
change
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From this reading It was customary to speak of this as the old Burnham place; yet nothing in Ruth Erskine Burnham's changeful life showed more markedly the effect of change than did this.
changeful
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From this reading It was customary to speak of this as the old Burnham place; yet nothing in Ruth Erskine Burnham's changeful life showed more markedly the effect of change than did this.
colorings
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From this reading The hills in the near distance had put on their glorified autumn dress, and the flowers in the gardens were all of the gorgeous or deep-toned colorings that tell of summer suns and autumn crispness.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A SPOILED MOTHER IT had been an ideal October day: one of those ravishing days that come sometimes in late autumn when, though the air is crisp with the hint of a coming winter, it is at the same time balmy with the memory of the departed summer.
coming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SPOILED MOTHER IT had been an ideal October day: one of those ravishing days that come sometimes in late autumn when, though the air is crisp with the hint of a coming winter, it is at the same time balmy with the memory of the departed summer.
crisp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SPOILED MOTHER IT had been an ideal October day: one of those ravishing days that come sometimes in late autumn when, though the air is crisp with the hint of a coming winter, it is at the same time balmy with the memory of the departed summer.
crispness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hills in the near distance had put on their glorified autumn dress, and the flowers in the gardens were all of the gorgeous or deep-toned colorings that tell of summer suns and autumn crispness.
customary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was customary to speak of this as the old Burnham place; yet nothing in Ruth Erskine Burnham's changeful life showed more markedly the effect of change than did this.
day
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From this reading A SPOILED MOTHER IT had been an ideal October day: one of those ravishing days that come sometimes in late autumn when, though the air is crisp with the hint of a coming winter, it is at the same time balmy with the memory of the departed summer.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SPOILED MOTHER IT had been an ideal October day: one of those ravishing days that come sometimes in late autumn when, though the air is crisp with the hint of a coming winter, it is at the same time balmy with the memory of the departed summer.
deep-toned
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From this reading The hills in the near distance had put on their glorified autumn dress, and the flowers in the gardens were all of the gorgeous or deep-toned colorings that tell of summer suns and autumn crispness.
delight
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From this reading It was, in short, one of those days when it is, or should be, a delight simply to live.
departed
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From this reading A SPOILED MOTHER IT had been an ideal October day: one of those ravishing days that come sometimes in late autumn when, though the air is crisp with the hint of a coming winter, it is at the same time balmy with the memory of the departed summer.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The Burnham place had never looked more lovely than it did that afternoon, bathed in the soft glory of an unusually brilliant sun-setting.
distance
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From this reading The hills in the near distance had put on their glorified autumn dress, and the flowers in the gardens were all of the gorgeous or deep-toned colorings that tell of summer suns and autumn crispness.
dress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hills in the near distance had put on their glorified autumn dress, and the flowers in the gardens were all of the gorgeous or deep-toned colorings that tell of summer suns and autumn crispness.
effect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was customary to speak of this as the old Burnham place; yet nothing in Ruth Erskine Burnham's changeful life showed more markedly the effect of change than did this.
Erskine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was customary to speak of this as the old Burnham place; yet nothing in Ruth Erskine Burnham's changeful life showed more markedly the effect of change than did this.
flowers
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From this reading The hills in the near distance had put on their glorified autumn dress, and the flowers in the gardens were all of the gorgeous or deep-toned colorings that tell of summer suns and autumn crispness.
gardens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hills in the near distance had put on their glorified autumn dress, and the flowers in the gardens were all of the gorgeous or deep-toned colorings that tell of summer suns and autumn crispness.
glorified
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hills in the near distance had put on their glorified autumn dress, and the flowers in the gardens were all of the gorgeous or deep-toned colorings that tell of summer suns and autumn crispness.
glory
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Burnham place had never looked more lovely than it did that afternoon, bathed in the soft glory of an unusually brilliant sun-setting.
gorgeous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hills in the near distance had put on their glorified autumn dress, and the flowers in the gardens were all of the gorgeous or deep-toned colorings that tell of summer suns and autumn crispness.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A SPOILED MOTHER IT had been an ideal October day: one of those ravishing days that come sometimes in late autumn when, though the air is crisp with the hint of a coming winter, it is at the same time balmy with the memory of the departed summer.
hills
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hills in the near distance had put on their glorified autumn dress, and the flowers in the gardens were all of the gorgeous or deep-toned colorings that tell of summer suns and autumn crispness.
hint
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SPOILED MOTHER IT had been an ideal October day: one of those ravishing days that come sometimes in late autumn when, though the air is crisp with the hint of a coming winter, it is at the same time balmy with the memory of the departed summer.
ideal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SPOILED MOTHER IT had been an ideal October day: one of those ravishing days that come sometimes in late autumn when, though the air is crisp with the hint of a coming winter, it is at the same time balmy with the memory of the departed summer.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A SPOILED MOTHER IT had been an ideal October day: one of those ravishing days that come sometimes in late autumn when, though the air is crisp with the hint of a coming winter, it is at the same time balmy with the memory of the departed summer.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A SPOILED MOTHER IT had been an ideal October day: one of those ravishing days that come sometimes in late autumn when, though the air is crisp with the hint of a coming winter, it is at the same time balmy with the memory of the departed summer.
ITpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A SPOILED MOTHER IT had been an ideal October day: one of those ravishing days that come sometimes in late autumn when, though the air is crisp with the hint of a coming winter, it is at the same time balmy with the memory of the departed summer.
late
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SPOILED MOTHER IT had been an ideal October day: one of those ravishing days that come sometimes in late autumn when, though the air is crisp with the hint of a coming winter, it is at the same time balmy with the memory of the departed summer.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was customary to speak of this as the old Burnham place; yet nothing in Ruth Erskine Burnham's changeful life showed more markedly the effect of change than did this.
live
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was, in short, one of those days when it is, or should be, a delight simply to live.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Burnham place had never looked more lovely than it did that afternoon, bathed in the soft glory of an unusually brilliant sun-setting.
lovely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Burnham place had never looked more lovely than it did that afternoon, bathed in the soft glory of an unusually brilliant sun-setting.
markedly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was customary to speak of this as the old Burnham place; yet nothing in Ruth Erskine Burnham's changeful life showed more markedly the effect of change than did this.
memorynounUS /ˈmem.ər.i/
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading A SPOILED MOTHER IT had been an ideal October day: one of those ravishing days that come sometimes in late autumn when, though the air is crisp with the hint of a coming winter, it is at the same time balmy with the memory of the departed summer.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Burnham place had never looked more lovely than it did that afternoon, bathed in the soft glory of an unusually brilliant sun-setting.
MOTHER
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SPOILED MOTHER IT had been an ideal October day: one of those ravishing days that come sometimes in late autumn when, though the air is crisp with the hint of a coming winter, it is at the same time balmy with the memory of the departed summer.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hills in the near distance had put on their glorified autumn dress, and the flowers in the gardens were all of the gorgeous or deep-toned colorings that tell of summer suns and autumn crispness.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Burnham place had never looked more lovely than it did that afternoon, bathed in the soft glory of an unusually brilliant sun-setting.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading It was customary to speak of this as the old Burnham place; yet nothing in Ruth Erskine Burnham's changeful life showed more markedly the effect of change than did this.
October
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SPOILED MOTHER IT had been an ideal October day: one of those ravishing days that come sometimes in late autumn when, though the air is crisp with the hint of a coming winter, it is at the same time balmy with the memory of the departed summer.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A SPOILED MOTHER IT had been an ideal October day: one of those ravishing days that come sometimes in late autumn when, though the air is crisp with the hint of a coming winter, it is at the same time balmy with the memory of the departed summer.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was customary to speak of this as the old Burnham place; yet nothing in Ruth Erskine Burnham's changeful life showed more markedly the effect of change than did this.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The hills in the near distance had put on their glorified autumn dress, and the flowers in the gardens were all of the gorgeous or deep-toned colorings that tell of summer suns and autumn crispness.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A SPOILED MOTHER IT had been an ideal October day: one of those ravishing days that come sometimes in late autumn when, though the air is crisp with the hint of a coming winter, it is at the same time balmy with the memory of the departed summer.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The hills in the near distance had put on their glorified autumn dress, and the flowers in the gardens were all of the gorgeous or deep-toned colorings that tell of summer suns and autumn crispness.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Burnham place had never looked more lovely than it did that afternoon, bathed in the soft glory of an unusually brilliant sun-setting.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hills in the near distance had put on their glorified autumn dress, and the flowers in the gardens were all of the gorgeous or deep-toned colorings that tell of summer suns and autumn crispness.
ravishing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SPOILED MOTHER IT had been an ideal October day: one of those ravishing days that come sometimes in late autumn when, though the air is crisp with the hint of a coming winter, it is at the same time balmy with the memory of the departed summer.
Ruth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was customary to speak of this as the old Burnham place; yet nothing in Ruth Erskine Burnham's changeful life showed more markedly the effect of change than did this.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A SPOILED MOTHER IT had been an ideal October day: one of those ravishing days that come sometimes in late autumn when, though the air is crisp with the hint of a coming winter, it is at the same time balmy with the memory of the departed summer.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading It was, in short, one of those days when it is, or should be, a delight simply to live.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading It was, in short, one of those days when it is, or should be, a delight simply to live.
showed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was customary to speak of this as the old Burnham place; yet nothing in Ruth Erskine Burnham's changeful life showed more markedly the effect of change than did this.
simply
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was, in short, one of those days when it is, or should be, a delight simply to live.
soft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Burnham place had never looked more lovely than it did that afternoon, bathed in the soft glory of an unusually brilliant sun-setting.
sometimes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SPOILED MOTHER IT had been an ideal October day: one of those ravishing days that come sometimes in late autumn when, though the air is crisp with the hint of a coming winter, it is at the same time balmy with the memory of the departed summer.
speak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was customary to speak of this as the old Burnham place; yet nothing in Ruth Erskine Burnham's changeful life showed more markedly the effect of change than did this.
SPOILEDadjectiveUS /spɔɪld/
given too much comfort or indulgence
From this reading A SPOILED MOTHER IT had been an ideal October day: one of those ravishing days that come sometimes in late autumn when, though the air is crisp with the hint of a coming winter, it is at the same time balmy with the memory of the departed summer.
summer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SPOILED MOTHER IT had been an ideal October day: one of those ravishing days that come sometimes in late autumn when, though the air is crisp with the hint of a coming winter, it is at the same time balmy with the memory of the departed summer.
sun-setting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Burnham place had never looked more lovely than it did that afternoon, bathed in the soft glory of an unusually brilliant sun-setting.
suns
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The hills in the near distance had put on their glorified autumn dress, and the flowers in the gardens were all of the gorgeous or deep-toned colorings that tell of summer suns and autumn crispness.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The hills in the near distance had put on their glorified autumn dress, and the flowers in the gardens were all of the gorgeous or deep-toned colorings that tell of summer suns and autumn crispness.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The Burnham place had never looked more lovely than it did that afternoon, bathed in the soft glory of an unusually brilliant sun-setting.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A SPOILED MOTHER IT had been an ideal October day: one of those ravishing days that come sometimes in late autumn when, though the air is crisp with the hint of a coming winter, it is at the same time balmy with the memory of the departed summer.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A SPOILED MOTHER IT had been an ideal October day: one of those ravishing days that come sometimes in late autumn when, though the air is crisp with the hint of a coming winter, it is at the same time balmy with the memory of the departed summer.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The hills in the near distance had put on their glorified autumn dress, and the flowers in the gardens were all of the gorgeous or deep-toned colorings that tell of summer suns and autumn crispness.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It was customary to speak of this as the old Burnham place; yet nothing in Ruth Erskine Burnham's changeful life showed more markedly the effect of change than did this.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading A SPOILED MOTHER IT had been an ideal October day: one of those ravishing days that come sometimes in late autumn when, though the air is crisp with the hint of a coming winter, it is at the same time balmy with the memory of the departed summer.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading A SPOILED MOTHER IT had been an ideal October day: one of those ravishing days that come sometimes in late autumn when, though the air is crisp with the hint of a coming winter, it is at the same time balmy with the memory of the departed summer.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A SPOILED MOTHER IT had been an ideal October day: one of those ravishing days that come sometimes in late autumn when, though the air is crisp with the hint of a coming winter, it is at the same time balmy with the memory of the departed summer.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was, in short, one of those days when it is, or should be, a delight simply to live.
unusually
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Burnham place had never looked more lovely than it did that afternoon, bathed in the soft glory of an unusually brilliant sun-setting.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was, in short, one of those days when it is, or should be, a delight simply to live.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The hills in the near distance had put on their glorified autumn dress, and the flowers in the gardens were all of the gorgeous or deep-toned colorings that tell of summer suns and autumn crispness.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading A SPOILED MOTHER IT had been an ideal October day: one of those ravishing days that come sometimes in late autumn when, though the air is crisp with the hint of a coming winter, it is at the same time balmy with the memory of the departed summer.
winter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SPOILED MOTHER IT had been an ideal October day: one of those ravishing days that come sometimes in late autumn when, though the air is crisp with the hint of a coming winter, it is at the same time balmy with the memory of the departed summer.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading A SPOILED MOTHER IT had been an ideal October day: one of those ravishing days that come sometimes in late autumn when, though the air is crisp with the hint of a coming winter, it is at the same time balmy with the memory of the departed summer.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading It was customary to speak of this as the old Burnham place; yet nothing in Ruth Erskine Burnham's changeful life showed more markedly the effect of change than did this.