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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 Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading One afternoon Philip had stolen upstairs to look at her and his child; but the efforts he made at careful noiselessness made the door creak on its hinges as he opened it.
afternoons
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From this reading Occasionally she caught a little sleep in the afternoons, but she usually awoke startled and feverish.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Occasionally she caught a little sleep in the afternoons, but she usually awoke startled and feverish.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading One afternoon Philip had stolen upstairs to look at her and his child; but the efforts he made at careful noiselessness made the door creak on its hinges as he opened it.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
awoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Occasionally she caught a little sleep in the afternoons, but she usually awoke startled and feverish.
baby
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From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
careful
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From this reading One afternoon Philip had stolen upstairs to look at her and his child; but the efforts he made at careful noiselessness made the door creak on its hinges as he opened it.
caught
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From this reading Occasionally she caught a little sleep in the afternoons, but she usually awoke startled and feverish.
chamber
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From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
child
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From this reading One afternoon Philip had stolen upstairs to look at her and his child; but the efforts he made at careful noiselessness made the door creak on its hinges as he opened it.
creak
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From this reading One afternoon Philip had stolen upstairs to look at her and his child; but the efforts he made at careful noiselessness made the door creak on its hinges as he opened it.
days
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From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
declension
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From this reading EVIL OMENS The first step in Philip's declension happened in this way.
door
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From this reading One afternoon Philip had stolen upstairs to look at her and his child; but the efforts he made at careful noiselessness made the door creak on its hinges as he opened it.
efforts
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From this reading One afternoon Philip had stolen upstairs to look at her and his child; but the efforts he made at careful noiselessness made the door creak on its hinges as he opened it.
employed
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From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
entering
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From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
EVIL
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From this reading EVIL OMENS The first step in Philip's declension happened in this way.
feverish
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From this reading Occasionally she caught a little sleep in the afternoons, but she usually awoke startled and feverish.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading EVIL OMENS The first step in Philip's declension happened in this way.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading EVIL OMENS The first step in Philip's declension happened in this way.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading One afternoon Philip had stolen upstairs to look at her and his child; but the efforts he made at careful noiselessness made the door creak on its hinges as he opened it.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
hinges
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One afternoon Philip had stolen upstairs to look at her and his child; but the efforts he made at careful noiselessness made the door creak on its hinges as he opened it.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading One afternoon Philip had stolen upstairs to look at her and his child; but the efforts he made at careful noiselessness made the door creak on its hinges as he opened it.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading EVIL OMENS The first step in Philip's declension happened in this way.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading One afternoon Philip had stolen upstairs to look at her and his child; but the efforts he made at careful noiselessness made the door creak on its hinges as he opened it.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading One afternoon Philip had stolen upstairs to look at her and his child; but the efforts he made at careful noiselessness made the door creak on its hinges as he opened it.
languid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
lay
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From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Occasionally she caught a little sleep in the afternoons, but she usually awoke startled and feverish.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One afternoon Philip had stolen upstairs to look at her and his child; but the efforts he made at careful noiselessness made the door creak on its hinges as he opened it.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
nightsnounUS /naɪts/
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
noiselessness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One afternoon Philip had stolen upstairs to look at her and his child; but the efforts he made at careful noiselessness made the door creak on its hinges as he opened it.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
nurse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
Occasionally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Occasionally she caught a little sleep in the afternoons, but she usually awoke startled and feverish.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
OMENS
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From this reading EVIL OMENS The first step in Philip's declension happened in this way.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading One afternoon Philip had stolen upstairs to look at her and his child; but the efforts he made at careful noiselessness made the door creak on its hinges as he opened it.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One afternoon Philip had stolen upstairs to look at her and his child; but the efforts he made at careful noiselessness made the door creak on its hinges as he opened it.
opened
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From this reading One afternoon Philip had stolen upstairs to look at her and his child; but the efforts he made at careful noiselessness made the door creak on its hinges as he opened it.
perceived
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From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
Philip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One afternoon Philip had stolen upstairs to look at her and his child; but the efforts he made at careful noiselessness made the door creak on its hinges as he opened it.
Philip's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading EVIL OMENS The first step in Philip's declension happened in this way.
pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/
the main matter or purpose being discussed
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
probably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
progress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
rapid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
recovery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
rouse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
sleep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Occasionally she caught a little sleep in the afternoons, but she usually awoke startled and feverish.
sleeping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
slumber
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
startled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Occasionally she caught a little sleep in the afternoons, but she usually awoke startled and feverish.
stationary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
stepnounUS /step/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading EVIL OMENS The first step in Philip's declension happened in this way.
stolen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One afternoon Philip had stolen upstairs to look at her and his child; but the efforts he made at careful noiselessness made the door creak on its hinges as he opened it.
succeeding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
Sylvia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading EVIL OMENS The first step in Philip's declension happened in this way.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading EVIL OMENS The first step in Philip's declension happened in this way.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
upstairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One afternoon Philip had stolen upstairs to look at her and his child; but the efforts he made at careful noiselessness made the door creak on its hinges as he opened it.
usually
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Occasionally she caught a little sleep in the afternoons, but she usually awoke startled and feverish.
wakeful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
warned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading EVIL OMENS The first step in Philip's declension happened in this way.
weaknessnounUS /ˈwiːknəs/
a lack of physical strength
From this reading Sylvia had made rapid progress in her recovery; but now she seemed at a stationary point of weakness; wakeful nights succeeding to languid days.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
wife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The woman employed to nurse her had taken the baby into another room that no sound might rouse her from her slumber; and Philip would probably have been warned against entering the chamber where his wife lay sleeping had he been perceived by the nurse.
