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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 Lorraine had washed the dishes and was tidying the room and looking at her father now and then in a troubled, questioning way of which Brit was quite oblivious.
abruptly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Dad," she said abruptly, "who is the man at Whisper?"
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Brit turned his eyes slowly to her face as if he had not grasped her meaning and was waiting for her to repeat the question.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was evident that his thoughts had pulled away from something that meant a good deal to him.
Brit
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From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
closed
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From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
Dad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Dad," she said abruptly, "who is the man at Whisper?"
deal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was evident that his thoughts had pulled away from something that meant a good deal to him.
dishes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lorraine had washed the dishes and was tidying the room and looking at her father now and then in a troubled, questioning way of which Brit was quite oblivious.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
evident
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was evident that his thoughts had pulled away from something that meant a good deal to him.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Brit turned his eyes slowly to her face as if he had not grasped her meaning and was waiting for her to repeat the question.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lorraine had washed the dishes and was tidying the room and looking at her father now and then in a troubled, questioning way of which Brit was quite oblivious.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Brit turned his eyes slowly to her face as if he had not grasped her meaning and was waiting for her to repeat the question.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was evident that his thoughts had pulled away from something that meant a good deal to him.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was evident that his thoughts had pulled away from something that meant a good deal to him.
grasped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Brit turned his eyes slowly to her face as if he had not grasped her meaning and was waiting for her to repeat the question.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Lorraine had washed the dishes and was tidying the room and looking at her father now and then in a troubled, questioning way of which Brit was quite oblivious.
HANG
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Brit turned his eyes slowly to her face as if he had not grasped her meaning and was waiting for her to repeat the question.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Lorraine had washed the dishes and was tidying the room and looking at her father now and then in a troubled, questioning way of which Brit was quite oblivious.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was evident that his thoughts had pulled away from something that meant a good deal to him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Brit turned his eyes slowly to her face as if he had not grasped her meaning and was waiting for her to repeat the question.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Lorraine had washed the dishes and was tidying the room and looking at her father now and then in a troubled, questioning way of which Brit was quite oblivious.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Dad," she said abruptly, "who is the man at Whisper?"
ITpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
JUST
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lorraine had washed the dishes and was tidying the room and looking at her father now and then in a troubled, questioning way of which Brit was quite oblivious.
Lorraine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lorraine had washed the dishes and was tidying the room and looking at her father now and then in a troubled, questioning way of which Brit was quite oblivious.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Dad," she said abruptly, "who is the man at Whisper?"
meaning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Brit turned his eyes slowly to her face as if he had not grasped her meaning and was waiting for her to repeat the question.
meant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was evident that his thoughts had pulled away from something that meant a good deal to him.
NERVE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Brit turned his eyes slowly to her face as if he had not grasped her meaning and was waiting for her to repeat the question.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lorraine had washed the dishes and was tidying the room and looking at her father now and then in a troubled, questioning way of which Brit was quite oblivious.
oblivious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lorraine had washed the dishes and was tidying the room and looking at her father now and then in a troubled, questioning way of which Brit was quite oblivious.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Lorraine had washed the dishes and was tidying the room and looking at her father now and then in a troubled, questioning way of which Brit was quite oblivious.
ONprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
pipe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
pullednounUS /pulled/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was evident that his thoughts had pulled away from something that meant a good deal to him.
questionnounUS /ˈquestion/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Brit turned his eyes slowly to her face as if he had not grasped her meaning and was waiting for her to repeat the question.
questioning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lorraine had washed the dishes and was tidying the room and looking at her father now and then in a troubled, questioning way of which Brit was quite oblivious.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Lorraine had washed the dishes and was tidying the room and looking at her father now and then in a troubled, questioning way of which Brit was quite oblivious.
repeat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Brit turned his eyes slowly to her face as if he had not grasped her meaning and was waiting for her to repeat the question.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lorraine had washed the dishes and was tidying the room and looking at her father now and then in a troubled, questioning way of which Brit was quite oblivious.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Dad," she said abruptly, "who is the man at Whisper?"
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Dad," she said abruptly, "who is the man at Whisper?"
slowly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Brit turned his eyes slowly to her face as if he had not grasped her meaning and was waiting for her to repeat the question.
smokingnounUS /ˈsmoking/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading It was evident that his thoughts had pulled away from something that meant a good deal to him.
staring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
supper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
TAKES
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was evident that his thoughts had pulled away from something that meant a good deal to him.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lorraine had washed the dishes and was tidying the room and looking at her father now and then in a troubled, questioning way of which Brit was quite oblivious.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
thoughts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was evident that his thoughts had pulled away from something that meant a good deal to him.
tidying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lorraine had washed the dishes and was tidying the room and looking at her father now and then in a troubled, questioning way of which Brit was quite oblivious.
TOparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
troubled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lorraine had washed the dishes and was tidying the room and looking at her father now and then in a troubled, questioning way of which Brit was quite oblivious.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
waiting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Brit turned his eyes slowly to her face as if he had not grasped her meaning and was waiting for her to repeat the question.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "IT TAKES NERVE JUST TO HANG ON" Brit was smoking his pipe after supper and staring at nothing, though his face was turned toward the closed door.
washed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lorraine had washed the dishes and was tidying the room and looking at her father now and then in a troubled, questioning way of which Brit was quite oblivious.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lorraine had washed the dishes and was tidying the room and looking at her father now and then in a troubled, questioning way of which Brit was quite oblivious.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Lorraine had washed the dishes and was tidying the room and looking at her father now and then in a troubled, questioning way of which Brit was quite oblivious.
Whisper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Dad," she said abruptly, "who is the man at Whisper?"
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading "Dad," she said abruptly, "who is the man at Whisper?"
