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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 Preparations commenced on a large scale; for Uncle Joshua, a little proud, it may be, of his handsome house, had determined on a large party.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE WEDDING The autumn months were gone; December had come and "Christmas was coming."
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
autumn
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From this reading THE WEDDING The autumn months were gone; December had come and "Christmas was coming."
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The negroes far and near had counted the days which must pass before their expected holidays.
cause
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From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
Christmas
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From this reading THE WEDDING The autumn months were gone; December had come and "Christmas was coming."
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE WEDDING The autumn months were gone; December had come and "Christmas was coming."
coming
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From this reading THE WEDDING The autumn months were gone; December had come and "Christmas was coming."
commenced
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From this reading Preparations commenced on a large scale; for Uncle Joshua, a little proud, it may be, of his handsome house, had determined on a large party.
counted
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From this reading The negroes far and near had counted the days which must pass before their expected holidays.
crying
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From this reading In Uncle Joshua’s kitchen there was much talking and laughing, fixing and fussing, and some crying.
days
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From this reading The negroes far and near had counted the days which must pass before their expected holidays.
December
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From this reading THE WEDDING The autumn months were gone; December had come and "Christmas was coming."
determinedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtɜrmɪnd/
having firmly decided to do something
From this reading Preparations commenced on a large scale; for Uncle Joshua, a little proud, it may be, of his handsome house, had determined on a large party.
Eve
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From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
expected
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From this reading The negroes far and near had counted the days which must pass before their expected holidays.
Fanny
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From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
far
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From this reading The negroes far and near had counted the days which must pass before their expected holidays.
fixing
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From this reading In Uncle Joshua’s kitchen there was much talking and laughing, fixing and fussing, and some crying.
following
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From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
fussing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In Uncle Joshua’s kitchen there was much talking and laughing, fixing and fussing, and some crying.
gone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE WEDDING The autumn months were gone; December had come and "Christmas was coming."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE WEDDING The autumn months were gone; December had come and "Christmas was coming."
handsomenounUS /ˈhandsome/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Preparations commenced on a large scale; for Uncle Joshua, a little proud, it may be, of his handsome house, had determined on a large party.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Preparations commenced on a large scale; for Uncle Joshua, a little proud, it may be, of his handsome house, had determined on a large party.
holidays
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The negroes far and near had counted the days which must pass before their expected holidays.
house
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From this reading Preparations commenced on a large scale; for Uncle Joshua, a little proud, it may be, of his handsome house, had determined on a large party.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In Uncle Joshua’s kitchen there was much talking and laughing, fixing and fussing, and some crying.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Preparations commenced on a large scale; for Uncle Joshua, a little proud, it may be, of his handsome house, had determined on a large party.
Joshua
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From this reading Preparations commenced on a large scale; for Uncle Joshua, a little proud, it may be, of his handsome house, had determined on a large party.
Joshua's
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From this reading In Uncle Joshua’s kitchen there was much talking and laughing, fixing and fussing, and some crying.
kitchen
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From this reading In Uncle Joshua’s kitchen there was much talking and laughing, fixing and fussing, and some crying.
large
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From this reading Preparations commenced on a large scale; for Uncle Joshua, a little proud, it may be, of his handsome house, had determined on a large party.
laughing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In Uncle Joshua’s kitchen there was much talking and laughing, fixing and fussing, and some crying.
leave
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From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Preparations commenced on a large scale; for Uncle Joshua, a little proud, it may be, of his handsome house, had determined on a large party.
married
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Preparations commenced on a large scale; for Uncle Joshua, a little proud, it may be, of his handsome house, had determined on a large party.
Miss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
months
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE WEDDING The autumn months were gone; December had come and "Christmas was coming."
much
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From this reading In Uncle Joshua’s kitchen there was much talking and laughing, fixing and fussing, and some crying.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading The negroes far and near had counted the days which must pass before their expected holidays.
near
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From this reading The negroes far and near had counted the days which must pass before their expected holidays.
negroes
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From this reading The negroes far and near had counted the days which must pass before their expected holidays.
New
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Preparations commenced on a large scale; for Uncle Joshua, a little proud, it may be, of his handsome house, had determined on a large party.
Orleans
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
partynounUS /party/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Preparations commenced on a large scale; for Uncle Joshua, a little proud, it may be, of his handsome house, had determined on a large party.
pass
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From this reading The negroes far and near had counted the days which must pass before their expected holidays.
Preparations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Preparations commenced on a large scale; for Uncle Joshua, a little proud, it may be, of his handsome house, had determined on a large party.
proud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Preparations commenced on a large scale; for Uncle Joshua, a little proud, it may be, of his handsome house, had determined on a large party.
scale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Preparations commenced on a large scale; for Uncle Joshua, a little proud, it may be, of his handsome house, had determined on a large party.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In Uncle Joshua’s kitchen there was much talking and laughing, fixing and fussing, and some crying.
startnounUS /start/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
talking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In Uncle Joshua’s kitchen there was much talking and laughing, fixing and fussing, and some crying.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE WEDDING The autumn months were gone; December had come and "Christmas was coming."
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The negroes far and near had counted the days which must pass before their expected holidays.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In Uncle Joshua’s kitchen there was much talking and laughing, fixing and fussing, and some crying.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
Uncle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In Uncle Joshua’s kitchen there was much talking and laughing, fixing and fussing, and some crying.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE WEDDING The autumn months were gone; December had come and "Christmas was coming."
WEDDING
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE WEDDING The autumn months were gone; December had come and "Christmas was coming."
week
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE WEDDING The autumn months were gone; December had come and "Christmas was coming."
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The negroes far and near had counted the days which must pass before their expected holidays.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Had you asked the cause of the crying, you would have been told that Miss Fanny was to be married Christmas Eve, and the week following she would leave them and start for New Orleans.
