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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 Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
acting
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From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading My first impulse, after Sydney’s disappearance, was to laugh.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
anxiety
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From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
behalf
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From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
bottom
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From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
broad
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From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
daylight
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From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
disappearance
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From this reading My first impulse, after Sydney’s disappearance, was to laugh.
display
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From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
empty
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From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
few
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From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading My first impulse, after Sydney’s disappearance, was to laugh.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
gain
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From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
gate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
Holt's
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From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
impulsenounUS /ˈɪmpʌls/
a sudden strong desire to act
From this reading My first impulse, after Sydney’s disappearance, was to laugh.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
laugh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My first impulse, after Sydney’s disappearance, was to laugh.
leastnounUS /least/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To say the least, the anxiety seemed unwarranted.
less
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From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
lingered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
merely
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From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
minutes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
more
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From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
Mr
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From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
MydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My first impulse, after Sydney’s disappearance, was to laugh.
occupant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
otherwise
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From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
proceedings
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From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
proposed
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From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
re-enter
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From this reading Then I turned to re-enter the house.
really
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From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
say
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From this reading To say the least, the anxiety seemed unwarranted.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To say the least, the anxiety seemed unwarranted.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
singular
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
sole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
spy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
Sydney
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
Sydney's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My first impulse, after Sydney’s disappearance, was to laugh.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then I turned to re-enter the house.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading My first impulse, after Sydney’s disappearance, was to laugh.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then I turned to re-enter the house.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
unwarranted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To say the least, the anxiety seemed unwarranted.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
wanderings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading My first impulse, after Sydney’s disappearance, was to laugh.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
Why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Why should he display anxiety on my behalf merely because I was to be the sole occupant of an otherwise empty house for a few minutes more or less,--and in broad daylight too!
wondering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I lingered at the gate, for a moment or two, wondering what was at the bottom of Mr Holt’s singular proceedings, and what Sydney really proposed to gain by acting as a spy upon his wanderings.
