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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 cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading His manner was impressive, and the brother of Tomaso stopped grinning to himself and began to look somewhat worried.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He watched Johnny's face--and I assure you that Johnny's face would have been worth any one's watching.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The other eye was as coldly critical as was humanly possible when the whole heart of Johnny was swelling with ecstasy.
assure
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From this reading He watched Johnny's face--and I assure you that Johnny's face would have been worth any one's watching.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The cigarette was not burning, though Johnny had made a hasty dab at it with a lighted match.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He watched Johnny's face--and I assure you that Johnny's face would have been worth any one's watching.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His manner was impressive, and the brother of Tomaso stopped grinning to himself and began to look somewhat worried.
bit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
boyish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
brother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His manner was impressive, and the brother of Tomaso stopped grinning to himself and began to look somewhat worried.
burning
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From this reading The cigarette was not burning, though Johnny had made a hasty dab at it with a lighted match.
byplay
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From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
cigarette
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
coldly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The other eye was as coldly critical as was humanly possible when the whole heart of Johnny was swelling with ecstasy.
corner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
critical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The other eye was as coldly critical as was humanly possible when the whole heart of Johnny was swelling with ecstasy.
dab
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From this reading The cigarette was not burning, though Johnny had made a hasty dab at it with a lighted match.
ecstasy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The other eye was as coldly critical as was humanly possible when the whole heart of Johnny was swelling with ecstasy.
eye
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He watched Johnny's face--and I assure you that Johnny's face would have been worth any one's watching.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
grinning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His manner was impressive, and the brother of Tomaso stopped grinning to himself and began to look somewhat worried.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The cigarette was not burning, though Johnny had made a hasty dab at it with a lighted match.
hasty
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From this reading The cigarette was not burning, though Johnny had made a hasty dab at it with a lighted match.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He watched Johnny's face--and I assure you that Johnny's face would have been worth any one's watching.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He watched Johnny's face--and I assure you that Johnny's face would have been worth any one's watching.
heart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The other eye was as coldly critical as was humanly possible when the whole heart of Johnny was swelling with ecstasy.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading His manner was impressive, and the brother of Tomaso stopped grinning to himself and began to look somewhat worried.
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His manner was impressive, and the brother of Tomaso stopped grinning to himself and began to look somewhat worried.
humanly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The other eye was as coldly critical as was humanly possible when the whole heart of Johnny was swelling with ecstasy.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading He watched Johnny's face--and I assure you that Johnny's face would have been worth any one's watching.
impressive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His manner was impressive, and the brother of Tomaso stopped grinning to himself and began to look somewhat worried.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The cigarette was not burning, though Johnny had made a hasty dab at it with a lighted match.
Johnny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cigarette was not burning, though Johnny had made a hasty dab at it with a lighted match.
Johnny's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He watched Johnny's face--and I assure you that Johnny's face would have been worth any one's watching.
keep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
lighted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cigarette was not burning, though Johnny had made a hasty dab at it with a lighted match.
lips
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His manner was impressive, and the brother of Tomaso stopped grinning to himself and began to look somewhat worried.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cigarette was not burning, though Johnny had made a hasty dab at it with a lighted match.
manner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His manner was impressive, and the brother of Tomaso stopped grinning to himself and began to look somewhat worried.
match
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cigarette was not burning, though Johnny had made a hasty dab at it with a lighted match.
merely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The cigarette was not burning, though Johnny had made a hasty dab at it with a lighted match.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His manner was impressive, and the brother of Tomaso stopped grinning to himself and began to look somewhat worried.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
one's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He watched Johnny's face--and I assure you that Johnny's face would have been worth any one's watching.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The other eye was as coldly critical as was humanly possible when the whole heart of Johnny was swelling with ecstasy.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
possible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The other eye was as coldly critical as was humanly possible when the whole heart of Johnny was swelling with ecstasy.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
slanted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
smoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
somewhat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His manner was impressive, and the brother of Tomaso stopped grinning to himself and began to look somewhat worried.
squinted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
stoppednounUS /stopped/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His manner was impressive, and the brother of Tomaso stopped grinning to himself and began to look somewhat worried.
swelling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The other eye was as coldly critical as was humanly possible when the whole heart of Johnny was swelling with ecstasy.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He watched Johnny's face--and I assure you that Johnny's face would have been worth any one's watching.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading His manner was impressive, and the brother of Tomaso stopped grinning to himself and began to look somewhat worried.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The cigarette was not burning, though Johnny had made a hasty dab at it with a lighted match.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His manner was impressive, and the brother of Tomaso stopped grinning to himself and began to look somewhat worried.
Tomaso
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His manner was impressive, and the brother of Tomaso stopped grinning to himself and began to look somewhat worried.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His manner was impressive, and the brother of Tomaso stopped grinning to himself and began to look somewhat worried.
watched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He watched Johnny's face--and I assure you that Johnny's face would have been worth any one's watching.
watching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He watched Johnny's face--and I assure you that Johnny's face would have been worth any one's watching.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The other eye was as coldly critical as was humanly possible when the whole heart of Johnny was swelling with ecstasy.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A cigarette slanted from the corner of his boyish lips, and the eye on that side was squinted to keep out the smoke; which was merely an impressive bit of byplay, because there was no smoke.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The other eye was as coldly critical as was humanly possible when the whole heart of Johnny was swelling with ecstasy.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The cigarette was not burning, though Johnny had made a hasty dab at it with a lighted match.
worried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His manner was impressive, and the brother of Tomaso stopped grinning to himself and began to look somewhat worried.
worth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He watched Johnny's face--and I assure you that Johnny's face would have been worth any one's watching.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He watched Johnny's face--and I assure you that Johnny's face would have been worth any one's watching.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading He watched Johnny's face--and I assure you that Johnny's face would have been worth any one's watching.
