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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 "What a fearful muddle, what a sea of ink is this menagerie of good and evil emblems!" exclaimed Durtal, laying down his pen.
Ages
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From this reading He had harnessed himself that morning to the task of investigating the symbolical fauna of the Middle Ages.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "What a fearful muddle, what a sea of ink is this menagerie of good and evil emblems!" exclaimed Durtal, laying down his pen.
any
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From this reading "I must take things in their order," said he to himself, "if indeed any principle of selection is possible in such confusion."
arduous
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From this reading At first sight the subject had struck him as newer and less arduous, and certainly as less lengthy, than the article he had thought of writing on the Primitive German Painters.
article
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From this reading At first sight the subject had struck him as newer and less arduous, and certainly as less lengthy, than the article he had thought of writing on the Primitive German Painters.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading At first sight the subject had struck him as newer and less arduous, and certainly as less lengthy, than the article he had thought of writing on the Primitive German Painters.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At first sight the subject had struck him as newer and less arduous, and certainly as less lengthy, than the article he had thought of writing on the Primitive German Painters.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading But he now sat dismayed before his books and notes, seeking a clue to guide him through the mass of contradictory evidence that lay before him.
booksnounUS /bʊks/
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading But he now sat dismayed before his books and notes, seeking a clue to guide him through the mass of contradictory evidence that lay before him.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he now sat dismayed before his books and notes, seeking a clue to guide him through the mass of contradictory evidence that lay before him.
certainly
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From this reading At first sight the subject had struck him as newer and less arduous, and certainly as less lengthy, than the article he had thought of writing on the Primitive German Painters.
clue
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From this reading But he now sat dismayed before his books and notes, seeking a clue to guide him through the mass of contradictory evidence that lay before him.
confusion
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From this reading "I must take things in their order," said he to himself, "if indeed any principle of selection is possible in such confusion."
contradictory
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From this reading But he now sat dismayed before his books and notes, seeking a clue to guide him through the mass of contradictory evidence that lay before him.
dismayed
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From this reading But he now sat dismayed before his books and notes, seeking a clue to guide him through the mass of contradictory evidence that lay before him.
down
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From this reading "What a fearful muddle, what a sea of ink is this menagerie of good and evil emblems!" exclaimed Durtal, laying down his pen.
Durtal
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From this reading "What a fearful muddle, what a sea of ink is this menagerie of good and evil emblems!" exclaimed Durtal, laying down his pen.
emblems
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From this reading "What a fearful muddle, what a sea of ink is this menagerie of good and evil emblems!" exclaimed Durtal, laying down his pen.
evidence
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From this reading But he now sat dismayed before his books and notes, seeking a clue to guide him through the mass of contradictory evidence that lay before him.
evil
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From this reading "What a fearful muddle, what a sea of ink is this menagerie of good and evil emblems!" exclaimed Durtal, laying down his pen.
exclaimed
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From this reading "What a fearful muddle, what a sea of ink is this menagerie of good and evil emblems!" exclaimed Durtal, laying down his pen.
fauna
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From this reading He had harnessed himself that morning to the task of investigating the symbolical fauna of the Middle Ages.
fearful
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From this reading "What a fearful muddle, what a sea of ink is this menagerie of good and evil emblems!" exclaimed Durtal, laying down his pen.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At first sight the subject had struck him as newer and less arduous, and certainly as less lengthy, than the article he had thought of writing on the Primitive German Painters.
German
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From this reading At first sight the subject had struck him as newer and less arduous, and certainly as less lengthy, than the article he had thought of writing on the Primitive German Painters.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "What a fearful muddle, what a sea of ink is this menagerie of good and evil emblems!" exclaimed Durtal, laying down his pen.
guide
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From this reading But he now sat dismayed before his books and notes, seeking a clue to guide him through the mass of contradictory evidence that lay before him.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had harnessed himself that morning to the task of investigating the symbolical fauna of the Middle Ages.
harnessed
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From this reading He had harnessed himself that morning to the task of investigating the symbolical fauna of the Middle Ages.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had harnessed himself that morning to the task of investigating the symbolical fauna of the Middle Ages.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading At first sight the subject had struck him as newer and less arduous, and certainly as less lengthy, than the article he had thought of writing on the Primitive German Painters.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He had harnessed himself that morning to the task of investigating the symbolical fauna of the Middle Ages.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "What a fearful muddle, what a sea of ink is this menagerie of good and evil emblems!" exclaimed Durtal, laying down his pen.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I must take things in their order," said he to himself, "if indeed any principle of selection is possible in such confusion."
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "I must take things in their order," said he to himself, "if indeed any principle of selection is possible in such confusion."
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "I must take things in their order," said he to himself, "if indeed any principle of selection is possible in such confusion."
indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I must take things in their order," said he to himself, "if indeed any principle of selection is possible in such confusion."
ink
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From this reading "What a fearful muddle, what a sea of ink is this menagerie of good and evil emblems!" exclaimed Durtal, laying down his pen.
investigating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had harnessed himself that morning to the task of investigating the symbolical fauna of the Middle Ages.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "What a fearful muddle, what a sea of ink is this menagerie of good and evil emblems!" exclaimed Durtal, laying down his pen.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he now sat dismayed before his books and notes, seeking a clue to guide him through the mass of contradictory evidence that lay before him.
laying
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From this reading "What a fearful muddle, what a sea of ink is this menagerie of good and evil emblems!" exclaimed Durtal, laying down his pen.
lengthy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first sight the subject had struck him as newer and less arduous, and certainly as less lengthy, than the article he had thought of writing on the Primitive German Painters.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first sight the subject had struck him as newer and less arduous, and certainly as less lengthy, than the article he had thought of writing on the Primitive German Painters.
mass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he now sat dismayed before his books and notes, seeking a clue to guide him through the mass of contradictory evidence that lay before him.
menagerie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What a fearful muddle, what a sea of ink is this menagerie of good and evil emblems!" exclaimed Durtal, laying down his pen.
Middle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had harnessed himself that morning to the task of investigating the symbolical fauna of the Middle Ages.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had harnessed himself that morning to the task of investigating the symbolical fauna of the Middle Ages.
muddle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What a fearful muddle, what a sea of ink is this menagerie of good and evil emblems!" exclaimed Durtal, laying down his pen.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "I must take things in their order," said he to himself, "if indeed any principle of selection is possible in such confusion."
newer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first sight the subject had struck him as newer and less arduous, and certainly as less lengthy, than the article he had thought of writing on the Primitive German Painters.
notes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he now sat dismayed before his books and notes, seeking a clue to guide him through the mass of contradictory evidence that lay before him.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he now sat dismayed before his books and notes, seeking a clue to guide him through the mass of contradictory evidence that lay before him.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "What a fearful muddle, what a sea of ink is this menagerie of good and evil emblems!" exclaimed Durtal, laying down his pen.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading At first sight the subject had struck him as newer and less arduous, and certainly as less lengthy, than the article he had thought of writing on the Primitive German Painters.
ordernounUS /order/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "I must take things in their order," said he to himself, "if indeed any principle of selection is possible in such confusion."
Painters
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From this reading At first sight the subject had struck him as newer and less arduous, and certainly as less lengthy, than the article he had thought of writing on the Primitive German Painters.
pen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What a fearful muddle, what a sea of ink is this menagerie of good and evil emblems!" exclaimed Durtal, laying down his pen.
possible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I must take things in their order," said he to himself, "if indeed any principle of selection is possible in such confusion."
Primitive
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From this reading At first sight the subject had struck him as newer and less arduous, and certainly as less lengthy, than the article he had thought of writing on the Primitive German Painters.
principle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I must take things in their order," said he to himself, "if indeed any principle of selection is possible in such confusion."
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I must take things in their order," said he to himself, "if indeed any principle of selection is possible in such confusion."
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he now sat dismayed before his books and notes, seeking a clue to guide him through the mass of contradictory evidence that lay before him.
sea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What a fearful muddle, what a sea of ink is this menagerie of good and evil emblems!" exclaimed Durtal, laying down his pen.
seeking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he now sat dismayed before his books and notes, seeking a clue to guide him through the mass of contradictory evidence that lay before him.
selection
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I must take things in their order," said he to himself, "if indeed any principle of selection is possible in such confusion."
sight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first sight the subject had struck him as newer and less arduous, and certainly as less lengthy, than the article he had thought of writing on the Primitive German Painters.
strucknounUS /struck/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At first sight the subject had struck him as newer and less arduous, and certainly as less lengthy, than the article he had thought of writing on the Primitive German Painters.
subject
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first sight the subject had struck him as newer and less arduous, and certainly as less lengthy, than the article he had thought of writing on the Primitive German Painters.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading "I must take things in their order," said he to himself, "if indeed any principle of selection is possible in such confusion."
symbolical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had harnessed himself that morning to the task of investigating the symbolical fauna of the Middle Ages.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "I must take things in their order," said he to himself, "if indeed any principle of selection is possible in such confusion."
task
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had harnessed himself that morning to the task of investigating the symbolical fauna of the Middle Ages.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading At first sight the subject had struck him as newer and less arduous, and certainly as less lengthy, than the article he had thought of writing on the Primitive German Painters.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had harnessed himself that morning to the task of investigating the symbolical fauna of the Middle Ages.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He had harnessed himself that morning to the task of investigating the symbolical fauna of the Middle Ages.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading "I must take things in their order," said he to himself, "if indeed any principle of selection is possible in such confusion."
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I must take things in their order," said he to himself, "if indeed any principle of selection is possible in such confusion."
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "What a fearful muddle, what a sea of ink is this menagerie of good and evil emblems!" exclaimed Durtal, laying down his pen.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At first sight the subject had struck him as newer and less arduous, and certainly as less lengthy, than the article he had thought of writing on the Primitive German Painters.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading But he now sat dismayed before his books and notes, seeking a clue to guide him through the mass of contradictory evidence that lay before him.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had harnessed himself that morning to the task of investigating the symbolical fauna of the Middle Ages.
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What a fearful muddle, what a sea of ink is this menagerie of good and evil emblems!" exclaimed Durtal, laying down his pen.
writing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first sight the subject had struck him as newer and less arduous, and certainly as less lengthy, than the article he had thought of writing on the Primitive German Painters.
