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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 place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Her heart big with grief, she clasped him in her arms, and laid her cheek against his bosom: higher she could not reach, and nearer than his breast-bone she could not get to him.
all
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From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
any
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From this reading No endearment was customary between them: James had never encouraged or missed any; neither did he know how to receive such when offered.
appeared
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From this reading He went into the parlour, and there, from the dim chamber beyond, whose door stood open, appeared his mother.
arms
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From this reading Her heart big with grief, she clasped him in her arms, and laid her cheek against his bosom: higher she could not reach, and nearer than his breast-bone she could not get to him.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading No endearment was customary between them: James had never encouraged or missed any; neither did he know how to receive such when offered.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading He went into the parlour, and there, from the dim chamber beyond, whose door stood open, appeared his mother.
big
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From this reading Her heart big with grief, she clasped him in her arms, and laid her cheek against his bosom: higher she could not reach, and nearer than his breast-bone she could not get to him.
bosom
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From this reading Her heart big with grief, she clasped him in her arms, and laid her cheek against his bosom: higher she could not reach, and nearer than his breast-bone she could not get to him.
breast-bone
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From this reading Her heart big with grief, she clasped him in her arms, and laid her cheek against his bosom: higher she could not reach, and nearer than his breast-bone she could not get to him.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
came
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From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
certainly
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From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
chamber
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From this reading He went into the parlour, and there, from the dim chamber beyond, whose door stood open, appeared his mother.
cheek
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her heart big with grief, she clasped him in her arms, and laid her cheek against his bosom: higher she could not reach, and nearer than his breast-bone she could not get to him.
clasped
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From this reading Her heart big with grief, she clasped him in her arms, and laid her cheek against his bosom: higher she could not reach, and nearer than his breast-bone she could not get to him.
coming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Her heart big with grief, she clasped him in her arms, and laid her cheek against his bosom: higher she could not reach, and nearer than his breast-bone she could not get to him.
customary
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From this reading No endearment was customary between them: James had never encouraged or missed any; neither did he know how to receive such when offered.
deadnounUS /dead/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
desired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading No endearment was customary between them: James had never encouraged or missed any; neither did he know how to receive such when offered.
dim
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From this reading He went into the parlour, and there, from the dim chamber beyond, whose door stood open, appeared his mother.
door
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From this reading He went into the parlour, and there, from the dim chamber beyond, whose door stood open, appeared his mother.
doors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
encouraged
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From this reading No endearment was customary between them: James had never encouraged or missed any; neither did he know how to receive such when offered.
endearment
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From this reading No endearment was customary between them: James had never encouraged or missed any; neither did he know how to receive such when offered.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
fallen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night had fallen when he reached the farm.
farm
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From this reading The night had fallen when he reached the farm.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He went into the parlour, and there, from the dim chamber beyond, whose door stood open, appeared his mother.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her heart big with grief, she clasped him in her arms, and laid her cheek against his bosom: higher she could not reach, and nearer than his breast-bone she could not get to him.
grief
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her heart big with grief, she clasped him in her arms, and laid her cheek against his bosom: higher she could not reach, and nearer than his breast-bone she could not get to him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The night had fallen when he reached the farm.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The night had fallen when he reached the farm.
heart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her heart big with grief, she clasped him in her arms, and laid her cheek against his bosom: higher she could not reach, and nearer than his breast-bone she could not get to him.
HerdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her heart big with grief, she clasped him in her arms, and laid her cheek against his bosom: higher she could not reach, and nearer than his breast-bone she could not get to him.
higher
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her heart big with grief, she clasped him in her arms, and laid her cheek against his bosom: higher she could not reach, and nearer than his breast-bone she could not get to him.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
how
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From this reading No endearment was customary between them: James had never encouraged or missed any; neither did he know how to receive such when offered.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Her heart big with grief, she clasped him in her arms, and laid her cheek against his bosom: higher she could not reach, and nearer than his breast-bone she could not get to him.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He went into the parlour, and there, from the dim chamber beyond, whose door stood open, appeared his mother.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
James
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No endearment was customary between them: James had never encouraged or missed any; neither did he know how to receive such when offered.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading No endearment was customary between them: James had never encouraged or missed any; neither did he know how to receive such when offered.
laid
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From this reading Her heart big with grief, she clasped him in her arms, and laid her cheek against his bosom: higher she could not reach, and nearer than his breast-bone she could not get to him.
meet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
missed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No endearment was customary between them: James had never encouraged or missed any; neither did he know how to receive such when offered.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He went into the parlour, and there, from the dim chamber beyond, whose door stood open, appeared his mother.
nearer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her heart big with grief, she clasped him in her arms, and laid her cheek against his bosom: higher she could not reach, and nearer than his breast-bone she could not get to him.
nearest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/
not one and not the other of two
From this reading No endearment was customary between them: James had never encouraged or missed any; neither did he know how to receive such when offered.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading No endearment was customary between them: James had never encouraged or missed any; neither did he know how to receive such when offered.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night had fallen when he reached the farm.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
offered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No endearment was customary between them: James had never encouraged or missed any; neither did he know how to receive such when offered.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading He went into the parlour, and there, from the dim chamber beyond, whose door stood open, appeared his mother.
opened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading No endearment was customary between them: James had never encouraged or missed any; neither did he know how to receive such when offered.
parlour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He went into the parlour, and there, from the dim chamber beyond, whose door stood open, appeared his mother.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
reach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Her heart big with grief, she clasped him in her arms, and laid her cheek against his bosom: higher she could not reach, and nearer than his breast-bone she could not get to him.
reached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night had fallen when he reached the farm.
receive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No endearment was customary between them: James had never encouraged or missed any; neither did he know how to receive such when offered.
reception
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
seldom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Her heart big with grief, she clasped him in her arms, and laid her cheek against his bosom: higher she could not reach, and nearer than his breast-bone she could not get to him.
shut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
silent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
soul
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He went into the parlour, and there, from the dim chamber beyond, whose door stood open, appeared his mother.
strangers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading No endearment was customary between them: James had never encouraged or missed any; neither did he know how to receive such when offered.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Her heart big with grief, she clasped him in her arms, and laid her cheek against his bosom: higher she could not reach, and nearer than his breast-bone she could not get to him.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The night had fallen when he reached the farm.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading No endearment was customary between them: James had never encouraged or missed any; neither did he know how to receive such when offered.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He went into the parlour, and there, from the dim chamber beyond, whose door stood open, appeared his mother.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
used
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He went into the parlour, and there, from the dim chamber beyond, whose door stood open, appeared his mother.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The place was silent; its doors were all shut; and when he opened the nearest, seldom used but for the reception of strangers, not a soul was to be seen; no one came to meet him, for no one had even thought of him, and certainly no one, except it were the dead, desired his coming.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The night had fallen when he reached the farm.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading He went into the parlour, and there, from the dim chamber beyond, whose door stood open, appeared his mother.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Her heart big with grief, she clasped him in her arms, and laid her cheek against his bosom: higher she could not reach, and nearer than his breast-bone she could not get to him.
